Thankfully, Lao Bai is not here to have to cope with this.
Steve, [from Ian Davies, with SF&Co for many years]
This is a most bizarre story.
I also copped this last night (9.30 pm !) from a hysterical skype phone call that I thought was from Florida (or Beijing). But instead, after a lot of querying, I found that she [Bai Lu] is in Canberra, living under court order and on bail with brother Bai Jun in Bruce, ACT, and has been in custody in gaol in Canberra for three weeks but was recently granted bail (again, this was like pulling teeth) after an “incident” at her house in late-February 2013 in MacKellar (Belconnen) with her ex-Chinese partner (former driver for the Luciano family in Beijing), who I understand is called Victor (she mentioned this to me last night). She didn’t explain what it was all about (and no mention was made to me about a gun) despite my urging, simply asking for the same short letter that she raised with you. We have been away in the past four weeks in both Jervis Bay and Melbourne (returned Sunday night) so we seem to have missed all the excitement, but Sumie found the following through the internet late last night in the Canberra Times which explains part or most of the story (other than the true intent).
Note that this court story below refers to the stealing of a bolt action rifle which I think must have belonged to Bai Yan’s old boyfriend for many years in the 1980s (can’t remember his name – perhaps Bernard). She is up for attempted murder (!!!!), after she fired at her ex-partner with the rifle while he was in the toilet after a fight, injuring him in the shoulder. He had only been in Australia 3 days. I don’t think he speaks English. He might still be in hospital but I have no real idea of his whereabouts. The court has told her not to go near him. She appears to have lost it, and gone crazy. I have no idea what the Bai family (sisters and brothers) think of all of this or their level of assistance other than Bai Jun is permitting her to stay with him. God knows if her Florida family and three children (now going to university?) know anything. I doubt it.
Here is the Canberra Times court reporter on the incident:
Alleged shooter granted bail
Canberra Times, 14 March 2013
Police reporter for The Canberra Times.
A woman accused of shooting her former lover in the toilet of a McKellar home last month was granted bail on Thursday, with $50,000 surety and strict reporting conditions.
Louise Bai, 56, is accused of taking a friend's bolt action .22 rifle without their knowledge, and shooting the man in his right shoulder during a dispute.
Police say when they arrived at the scene, the victim said ''she shot me'', pointed towards Bai, and said ''I was on the toilet and she shot me''. Bai told police the gun accidentally went off, and that she hadn't intended to shoot anyone, court documents show. The alleged shooter was granted bail on the condition she reside with her brother in Bruce, report to Belconnen Police Station every day and not contact a number of people, including the alleged victim.
Bai was ordered to surrender her passport and told she could not leave the ACT. Her brother provided $50,000 surety. Prosecutors have charged Bai with attempted murder.
Last month, Bai appeared in court and entered pleas of not guilty for two charges, including the attempted murder charge, but entered no plea for a third charge related to the possession of the weapon.
He was shot in the right shoulder, and he told police that Bai began working the rifle’s bolt action, saying ‘‘I’m going to kill you and I want to die too’’.
The pair then wrestled over the rifle, police allege, before Bai hit him over the head with a large crystal ash tray.
…………………………………………………………………………….
Woman charged with attempted murder of ex-lover
Canberra Times, Date: 28 February, 2013
Police reporter for The Canberra Times.
A woman who allegedly shot her former lover in the toilet of a McKellar home, before telling him she was going to kill him, will face a charge of attempted murder.
Louise Bai, 56, is accused of shooting her ex-partner in the shoulder with a bolt action .22 rifle, that she had stolen from a friend and stashed in a closet in the granny flat of her Tipping Place property.
Police allege the victim was on the toilet just before the shooting, and the pair were chatting about going to lunch.
He told police that when he opened the toilet door, he found Bai standing with the rifle tucked under her armpit.
He was shot in the right shoulder, and he told police that Bai began working the rifle’s bolt action, saying ‘‘I’m going to kill you and I want to die too’’.
The pair then wrestled over the rifle, police allege, before Bai hit him over the head with a large crystal ash tray.
Bai appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday, and prosecutors charged her with the fresh offence of attempted murder.
She entered pleas of not guilty for two charges, including the attempted murder charge, but entered no plea for a third charge related to the possession of the weapon.
She will make a bid to be released from jail in two weeks, with a bail application set down for March 14.
Bai and her alleged victim had known each other for 11 years, but had separated several years ago, according to court documents.
The victim had travelled from China to help Bai renovate a property she was renting out while she lived in the United States.
Bai offered a different version of events to police, according to court documents.
She said she fired the weapon accidentally, and had no intention to shoot or injure her ex-partner.
She told police she had intended to go shooting with the man after lunch.
The court had previously heard that Bai was at risk of interfering with witnesses or fleeing the country if she was released on bail.
It heard the victim was vulnerable, speaking almost no English, arriving in the country just days before the alleged shooting, and having no friends or relatives in the ACT.
Police believe there were no witnesses, according to court documents.
Defence lawyers have previously told the court the case was likely to be ‘‘word on word’’.
From: Stephen FitzGerald [mailto:stevefitz@fastmail.fm]
Sent: Tuesday, 19 March 2013 8:29 AM
To: Ian Davies
Subject: Bai Lu
Have you heard from Bai Lu. I had a phone call from her last night saying she was in Canberra and needed a letter she could produce to a magistrate saying she had no history of violence! Something to do with using a gun resulting in some 'accident' happening but she wouldn't say what. I told her I couldn't write a letter unless I knew what this was all about and she must set it down in an email. Do you know anything about this?
