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Chinese authorities detain man after woman’s body found in Sydney freezer

The woman was found in a unit within this complex on Bobbin Head Road.

The woman was found in a unit within this complex on Bobbin Head Road. Photo: ABC

Chinese authorities have located murder suspect Haoling Luo, who left Australia this week the day before his wife’s body was found stuffed inside a freezer in a Sydney apartment.

Mr Luo cleared customs at Sydney International Airport on Tuesday with their two young children, who NSW Police say have been located safely in China.

Local authorities in China’s Sichuan province are speaking to Mr Luo.

Officers bashed down the door to the couple’s apartment at Pymble, on Sydney’s Upper North Shore, on Wednesday morning after concerns were raised for Renxi Ouyang’s welfare.

Neighbours told the ABC they heard yelling, screaming and what sounded like furniture being thrown around the home on Sunday night.

man held body freezer

Haoling ‘Andrew’ Luo previously worked as a real estate agent. Photo: Supplied

Homicide detectives spent Wednesday night interviewing neighbours and residents in the area to try to establish a motive for the alleged murder.

The ABC understands Mr Luo, who also went by Andrew, received his real estate licence in mid-2018 and was selling houses in the Upper North Shore before he left for China.

Former colleagues described him as a reserved man, who had a pragmatic outlook in life but was pleasant in his day-to-day interactions.

Real estate agent George Carey sold him and Ms Ouyang their Pymble apartment at the end of 2016 for just over $900,000.

Mr Carey recalled Mr Lou was eager to settle in the region because he was impressed with the local schools.

One person, who did not wish to be named, said Mr Luo was an international student at Macquarie University and would make regular trips to China where he owned a restaurant.

Homicide Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Scott Cook said police did not yet know the motive behind the suspected murder.

“We don’t even have a positive identification in regards to the woman [and] we don’t anticipate a post-mortem will be undertaken until next week at the earliest,” he said.

The detective said they would continue liaising with their Chinese counterparts about their discussions with Mr Luo.

He said he was questioned by local police in Sichuan province, but said it was not clear what Chinese authorities were asking him.

“We anticipate in the course of the day we’ll get some feedback on that,” he said.

Both Mr Luo and Ms Ouyang are believed to be in their 30s.

The crime scene is across the road from Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School.

Parents and neighbours who became aware of the death last night or this morning said they were “devastated”.

“It’s such a good neighbourhood, we’ve been here for six years and this kind of has never happened,” said Claire Kim.

“I was quite shocked to hear about the news.”

-ABC

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