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The jury in the murder trial of Robert Xie has been told Sydney newsagent Min Lin and his wife Lily were the primary, intended victims of their killer and their two sons and the boys' aunt may have been collateral.
Prosecutor Mark Tedeschi QC commenced his closing address in the trial of Xie over the murders of the couple, their two sons Terry and Henry, and the boys' aunt Irene Lin at their North Epping home in July 2009.
"This was not a robbery gone wrong," Mr Tedeschi said.
"Neither was this a sexual attack gone wrong.
"This was entry to the premises with the specific purpose of killing."
The jury has been told the murder weapon was a hammer, wrapped in a piece of cloth with a rope attached.
The court heard that photos of the victims faces show they suffered different types of injuries.
"Min and Lily not only were attacked with a hammer to their head, but their faces were disfigured," Mr Tedeschi said.
He said another difference was that their bodies were left in humiliating circumstances.
"The killer was motivated by intense bitterness and hatred," Mr Tedeschi said.
The prosecutor put it to the jury that Mr and Mrs Lin were killed first and Irene, Terry and Henry may have been collateral victims.
Blood prints left by rope were found on the wall of Irene Lin's bedroom and it was suggested this was because the rope had come loose by this stage.
It is alleged that after the last of the five victims was killed, their attacker returned to the bedroom of Min and Lily Lin and re-arranged their bodies.
Robert Xie, who is the brother-in-law of Min Lin, has pleaded not guilty to all five murders.
His barrister will have the opportunity to address the jury after the prosecutor completes his remarks.
Topics: murder-and-manslaughter, courts-and-trials, sydney-2000
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