A jilted wife will spend her birthday behind bars Thursday after allegedly pursuing her husband’s new girlfriend in a wild nighttime chase that ended with her crashing her Lexus after repeatedly ramming her love rival’s luxury car.
Rachel Liu, 32, spotted a black Mercedes SUV that she co-owns with her ex-husband, Chen Ling Liu, around 10:30 p.m. on Monday, court documents allege.
He later told police he thought the sleek car must have been stolen and followed it through the streets of Earlwood, in Sydney’s inner west, the court was told.
But the $150,000 SUV was actually being driven by her husband’s new lover and Liu repeatedly rammed him with her Lexus IS300, police told the court.
And the dramatic chase only ended when Liu lost control of her sedan and crashed into a road sign before being rushed to hospital by ambulance.
Now, the jilted wife claims the incident occurred after the new lovers taunted her with intimate images of her ex-husband with his new partner.
The Lius’ eight-year marriage broke up last year, but finalization of the divorce was delayed by protracted negotiations over their shared property and business interests.
And court documents alleged that a volatile love triangle had begun when Liu became romantically involved with another woman.
Rachel Liu received support from her mother and cousin in court today.
Rachel Liu lost control of her sedan and crashed into a sign in a median (scene pictured)
His wife told police the new couple had harassed her relentlessly for a year and taunted her with intimate photographs of themselves, the court was told.
Dramatic scenes on Monday erupted after her ex-husband’s new lover dropped him off at home after the couple enjoyed dinner together.
The 38-year-old woman thought she was being followed and stopping in Campsie to check a text message when she was suddenly confronted by Liu, furiously banging on her window, court documents allege.
The shocked driver, 38, drove away and Liu told police he fell to the ground, hitting his head and cutting his arm, the court was told.
Despite his injuries, Liu began the chase through suburban streets where police allege he rear-ended the Mercedes several times.
CCTV is alleged to have captured the dramatic ending when Liu veered off the road and crashed his $50,000 car into a traffic sign on Hamilton Ave in Earlwood.
When asked by concerned residents what happened, Liu can be heard on CCTV saying he was “chasing a girl”.
Liu was treated by paramedics at the scene and taken to St George’s Hospital for evaluation.
The driver of the Mercedes was uninjured and went to the Kogarah police station a short time later to report the alleged incident.
CCTV shows Rachel Liu’s sedan closely following the Mercedes before it allegedly rear-ended the vehicle several times.
Ms. Liu’s estranged husband, Chen Ling Liu (pictured), arrived at the accident scene.
Locals claimed Liu’s estranged husband later came to the scene in an Uber and asked onlookers if the Mercedes had been damaged.
Liu has been charged with predatory driving and domestic harassment/intimidation with intent to fear bodily harm. Both charges carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Her mother cried when she found out her daughter would be behind bars on her birthday after she was refused bail at Sutherland Local Court today.
The case will next be heard at Bankstown Local Court on December 17.