Chinese tourist Jie Shao found guilty of boob job killing

A Chinese tourist has been found guilty of manslaughter after a beauty clinic manager died following a breast augmentation procedure inside a Sydney clinic.

A Chinese tourist has been found guilty of manslaughter over a botched boob job during which a Sydney beauty clinic manager died of an anaesthetic overdose.

Following a three-week trial in Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court, a jury on Thursday found Jie Shao guilty of causing the death of Jean Huang nearly seven years ago.

Shao pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of using a poison to endanger life relating to the administration of an anaesthetic, Lidocaine, to Ms Huang.

However she fought the more serious charge of manslaughter at trial, with her defence arguing she was not responsible for Ms Huang’s death.

Ms Huang, 35, died following a procedure, to pump filler into her breasts, at the Medi Beauty Clinic in August 2017.

The cosmetic procedure was performed at the Chippendale clinic where Ms Huang was a part owner and manager.

Jie Shao (centre) was found guilty of manslaughter. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Flavio Brancaleone.

The court heard that during the procedure Ms Huang began convulsing and foaming at the mouth - which the Crown prosecution described as symptoms of Lidocaine toxicity - before going into cardiac arrest.

She was rushed to hospital but was declared brain-dead and her life support was turned off two days later.

The court heard that during the procedure Shao administered painkiller Tramadol, a local anaesthetic Lidocaine and a breast filler.

Crown Prosecutor Sara Gul told the jury that Shao administered a fatal overdose of Lidocaine, well above the prescribed maximum dosage, to Ms Huang.

Ms Gul, during her closing submissions to the jury, told the court that even according to Ms Shao’s version of events, she administered a dose of Lidocaine which was up to several times more than what was accepted to be the safe limit.

The court heard that after Ms Shao injected Lidocaine, Ms Huang began slurring her words and appeared sleepy.

“And the accused kept going, kept injecting this Lidocaine into her,” Ms Gul said.

The court heard that the Tramadol, which was from Portugal, and the filler, from Korea, were not approved for use in Australia.

The facility did not have the required resuscitation and safety equipment, the court also heard.

Jean Huang died following a breast augmentation procedure inside her Chippendale clinic. Picture: Facebook.

The court heard that Shao arrived in Australia, via Melbourne, a few days before the procedure, with the Crown alleging she made herself out to be a doctor.

The court heard that while Shao had a degree from the Guangdong Medical University in China, she was not registered as a practising doctor in Australia or China.

She later told police that she had performed cosmetic procedures in her home country.

Shao’s defence barrister Winston Terracini SC told the court that she was asked to do the procedure and played no role in running the clinic.

The court heard that Shao said in her police interview that she was only supposed to perform the procedure on one side of Ms Huang to demonstrate the procedure for a doctor, who would do the other half.

The defence argued that Shao stepped in to perform the procedure after Ms Huang expressed embarrassment at the prospect of a male doctor, who worked at the clinic, seeing her breasts.

The defence argued the circumstances in which she assumed her duty of care were critical in assessing whether she breached that duty and whether she acted reasonably.

Shao will return to court at a later date for sentencing proceedings.