Wei Li murder trial hears a friend helped him buy a ticket to Singapore

A WITNESS in the Wei Li murder trial has told court he gave money to the alleged killer so he could buy a one-way ticket to Singapore and fulfil his “mission” to kill himself.

Murder suspect Wei Li (Daniel Li) pictured with fellow Year 11 international students at Prince Alfred College 21 Oct 2011. (...

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A WITNESS in the Wei Li murder trial has told court he gave money to the alleged killer so he could buy a one-way ticket to Singapore and fulfil his “mission” to kill himself.

Xiang Ji, 25 of Melbourne, gave evidence in the Supreme Court on Friday.

Li, 22, has pleaded not guilty to murdering his mother, Emma Mae Tian, in their Burnside home in March 2011.

Earlier this week, the court heard he allegedly searched online for information on how to fatally stab someone and avoid police.

In his evidence, Mr Ji told the court Li spent one night at his house in Melbourne in a drunken state, only days after the alleged murder.

“So he wanted to suicide, he said he was in a bad mood and he was very sad, and that would be enough for me to understand,” Mr Ji said.

“I thought that as a human being, if you have a friend that wants to suicide, you wouldn’t investigate like the police to find out why.

“My intention was to help him to satisfy what he wanted and try to comfort him to make him feel better.”

Mr Ji said the duo went to Chinatown to attempt to purchase a one-way ticket to Singapore and spoke with travel agent Rosetta Yow.

In her evidence, Ms Yow said she told Li he would need a valid working visa or he would have to pay for a return ticket.

Li paid Ms Yow for a five-day trip and was scheduled to return on March 28, 2011 — a flight he did not catch.

The trial continues before Justice Trish Kelly.

IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW MAY BE AT RISK OF SUICIDE, CONTACT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING FOR HELP: LIFELINE on 13 11 14; BEYONDBLUE on 1300 22 46 36, OR THE SALVO CARE LINE, 1300 36 36 22.