Jie Shao applies for permanent trial stay after boob job death of Sydney’s Jean Huang

Jie Shao has pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of her boss, beautician Jean Huang, in a an alleged botched filler boob job in Sydney — now her barrister is trying to have the trial permanently halted.

Jie Shao leaves Downing Centre District Court with her legal team in 2021. Picture: Monique Harmer

Five years after a Sydney beautician died in a botched boob job, the case against her alleged killer has become a “tale of woe” with the Chinese government continuing to block access to crucial witnesses, a court has heard.

Jie Shao, 38, has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and using poison to endanger life after she allegedly injected Jean Huang with painkillers tramadol, lidocaine and then breast fillers in 2017.

Ms Huang was having the fillers injected in her Medi Beauty Clinic in Chippendale when her heart failed.

She died two days later in Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

The courts have previously heard Shao was on a tourist visa and had met Ms Huang through a mutual friend.

Jie Shao (second from left) leaving Sydney Downing Centre court flanked by her legal team in 2021. Picture: Adam Yip

Shao’s trial is long overdue and continues to drag through the NSW District Court, in part, because crucial witnesses returned to China where authorities have prevented them from giving evidence.

Shao’s barrister, Winston Terracini KC, told the court on Monday that he would apply to have the trial permanently stayed.

Jean Huang died following the procedure. Picture: Facebook

“It’s a tale of woe,” he told the court.

The Crown Prosecutor told the court he was seeking to again delay the trial, but would fight to keep it from being permanently halted.

Earlier this year the courts heard the Chinese government had not approved three crucial witnesses to give evidence via video link from China.

Among them is Yuegiong “Caroline” Fu who was given a two-year good behaviour bond for recklessly administering poison to her boss and then providing false statements to police.

Yueqiong Fu leaves the Downing Centre Court in 2019.

Fu promised to help police prosecute Shao, the court heard in February, but left Australia after finishing her good behaviour bond.

Doctor Ronald Hsiao, another witness, performed CPR on the dying Ms Huang but was last known to be in Taiwan, the court heard earlier this year.

A third witness, who also worked at the clinic, has returned to China with her precise whereabouts still unknown.

Three crucial Chinese witnesses have not been available to give evidence on Ms Huang’s death.

Mr Terracini, earlier this year, said the Chinese government has long objected to its citizens being cross-examined in jurisdictions such as Australia.

The trial will return to the District Court on Wednesday where a judge will hear arguments about whether it can continue or should be permanently stayed.

Shao remains on a $20,000 bail.