West Vancouver man sentenced to 10 years for killing former business partner

By mikehall

Posted October 5, 2020 2:44 pm.

WEST VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — A West Vancouver millionaire who shot and killed, then dismembered his former business partner has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, but could be out in two.

When Li Zhao, now 60, was arrested five years ago, he was charged with the second-degree murder of 42-year-old Gang Yuan.

The victim’s remains were found in May of 2015. Yuan was found cut into more than 100 pieces with a power saw in the mansion’s garage.

In January of this year, Zhao was convicted of manslaughter after prosecutors couldn’t prove he intended to kill the other man during a fight at the British Properties mansion where they both lived.

Zhao admitted to shooting Yuan, but pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder. Zhao’s lawyer, Ian Donaldson, said previously manslaughter is the verdict he and his client wanted.

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After factoring in time already served, Zhao could be released in about two years.

A 10-year ban on firearms has also been imposed on Zhao.

Crown Counsel was initially seeking a sentence of at least 12 years. Zhao’s sentence is seven years for manslaughter and three and a half for indignities to human remains, to run consecutively for total 10 and a half.

–with files from Kathryn Tindale

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