Grieving family: Kristine’s younger brother carrying a box believed to be her ashes at the arrival hall of KLIA.
PETALING JAYA: The family of the 24-year-old Malaysian who was killed in Taiwan has brought her ashes home and will hold a memorial service for the university student and model.
Kristine Cai was found dead in her apartment in Taipei on Oct 13. Her boyfriend has reportedly confessed to her murder and is currently in police custody.
Yesterday, Kristine’s younger brother was seen holding a box containing her ashes as he emerged from the arrival hall of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport at about 2.40pm, according to Sin Chew Daily.
He was accompanied by his parents and several other family members, the report added.
A prayer and memorial service is scheduled to be held for Kristine at Yi Yuan Life Care Centre in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, today.
Kristine, from Serdang, Selangor, was a student at Ming Chuan University in Taipei.
She had also been working as a model and livestreamer.
Reports said her boyfriend, Chen Boyan, 30, confessed to paramedics that he had strangled a woman in Dadong Road in Taipei City’s Shilin district after overdosing on over-the-counter medication.
The police then found Kristine’s body in the apartment.
A public message shared by Yi Yuan Life Care that called on the public to send in folded paper cranes to the centre in memory of Kristine.
Sin Chew Daily also reported that at a funeral ceremony conducted for his daughter in Taiwan on Monday, Kristine’s father demanded swift justice for her.
“No matter how fair the law is, we will never get our precious daughter back.
“Even so, we still want justice (for our daughter).
“We do not want to see another set of parents suffer; we do not want such a tragedy to repeat itself,” he said in a letter that was read out at the event.
During the ceremony, which was organised by the university and local authorities, Kristine’s father could be seen cradling her photograph and lamenting how he was unable to protect her.
“My precious daughter. Mum, dad and your younger brother were unable to protect you. Even so, you know how much we love you. Please remember mum and dad’s teachings and believe that this world is full of love and beauty.
“Right now, let go of everything and take everyone’s love with you to heaven,” he said.
According to reports, Chen told the police that he and Kristine had a fight over financial issues and that he had “accidentally” suffocated her with a pillow.
However, local media said Kristine’s post-mortem report showed that the victim had died of suffocation from strangulation, and she had bruises on her neck and a fracture on her skull.
The police, who believe that Kristine may have been killed in her sleep, are investigating the case.
Chen has been arrested for suspected murder.
