Alleged murderer Wei Li tells SA court that he killed his mother in self-defence over a dispute about piano practice.

A 22-year old law student accused of murdering his mother has told an Adelaide jury that he fought back in self-defence after his mother became angry about his lack of piano practice.

Wei Li said his mother, Emma Mae Tian (41), wanted him to reach professional pianist standard, and starting screaming and yelling in March 2011 when he refused to practice. “I think she wanted to kill me, I had to fight back, I had to stop her,” he told the court. Li, who is also known as Daniel, said his mother was holding something in her hand, later clarified to be a metal bar, and that he was unable to reason with her.

 Wei Li entering court last week

The court understands that Li, who started learning piano when he was three years old, was practising martial arts instead of the piano at the time of the death. He has pleaded not guilty to murder, but has admitted that his mother died by his hand during the incident. Prosecutors believe the death was premeditated, showing evidence of Li’s Google searches for stabbing and police avoidance techniques prior to the event. The court has also heard evidence that Li bought a one-way ticket to Singapore after the incident, and left Australia for three years.

“I was supposed to learn the piano and I knew that … my mum wanted me to play the piano every morning … I didn’t want to,” Li said. 

The trial, before Justice Trish Kelly and a jury of six men and six women, continues.