Trial begins with witness testimony Chinese delivery driver murder

August 5, 2015

Daniel Seamans,

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Trial is underway for the murder suspect charged with killing a Chinese delivery driver in 2012 with multiple witnesses taking the stand.

Cornell Haugabook Jr., 23, and five others were charged in the June 2012 killing of Zhen Bo Liu.

Liu, 60, was found dead in a car near 13th and Queen streets June 14, 2012. Liu was a delivery driver for China King and was delivering $48 worth of food when he was killed.

Wednesday, opening arguments were held and witness testimony began. Liu’s boss at the time of the murder, the co-owner of China King, was first to take the stand. Speaking through an interpreter, she described Liu and his family. District Attorney asked her about the delivery process as well. Then, Liu’s boss described the night of the murder. She said her husband went to the delivery location after Liu did not return. The husband then called and told her that Liu had been shot and appeared to have “passed away”.

Also, Fran Norton at the StarNews reports that other witness testimony including the co-owner who drove to the location and found Liu, first responders, and co-defendant Manije Johnson-Martin who agreed to testify in exchange for a plea deal. Norton says Johnson-Martin refused to comply but eventually began giving a recount of the night.

A grand jury indicted Haugabook, Mustafaa Friend, Rasheed Thompson and Manije Johnson-Martin for first-degree murder in 2012. The grand jury indicted Marvin White and Nathaniel Lawrence on a charge of robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Investigators say the group placed an order for delivery from China King on South 17th Street, then ambushed Liu at the corner of 13th and Queen.

On July 9, 2013, Johnson-Martin pleaded guilty to robbery with a dangerous weapon and second-degree murder in Liu’s death. Johnson-Martin was 16 when it happened. He was not the shooter, but according to the District Attorney’s office, Johnson-Martin said he did provide the cell phone used to order the food.