Robber admits parcel tape murder

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A man on trial for the murder of a wealthy restaurant owner who died after he bound her face in 70ft (21m) of parcel tape has admitted her murder.

Sun Choy, a Malaysian national, changed his plea on the second day of his Old Bailey trial, having previously denied murder while admitting manslaughter.

Choy, 39, formerly of Eltham, south east London, fled to Holland following Yuk Ying Phuah's death in August 2003.

Mrs Phuah suffocated during a robbery at her home in Wembley, north London.

Gambling debts

The 42-year-old's body was found the next day in a lay-by on the A20 Sidcup bypass in Kent.

Two thousand pounds was stolen during the robbery.

Choy, who had £20,000 of gambling debts, had already borrowed money from the family.

After his extradition to England in April last year, he admitted manslaughter.

But after changing his plea on Friday, he was formally found guilty of murder and robbery on the direction of the judge and remanded in custody.

He will be sentenced later.