Five women whose children could be heirs to a slain West Vancouver millionaire’s fortune have won their legal bid for anonymity.
The families all plan to seek a piece of Gang Yuan’s $50-million state, but have said they wouldn’t be interested in the money if their names were revealed because of the potential for violence, harassment, identity theft, fraud and discrimination.
On Friday, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Terence Schultes approved a publication ban on the identities of the women and their families, as well as a sealing order on court documents in the case.
Yuan left no will behind when he was killed and chopped into more than 100 pieces in early May.
Each child has been confirmed as Yuan’s offspring through DNA testing, according to affidavits filed in court, and he financially supported some if not all of them. The oldest is seven years old.
Li Zhao, who is married to Yuan’s cousin, is charged with second-degree murder in the slaying.
