The Chinese parents of a high-flying academic killed by cancer are locked in a bitter court fight with his young widow over a £425,000 home they claim was bankrolled by a £325,000 'unpaid' loan to their late son.
Kings College London medical statistician Dr Kun Liu died in 2015 aged 31, leaving everything to his bride, Xuan Wu, despite claims his mother openly 'disliked' her.
The young couple exchanged marriage vows in hospital on November 27 2015, and four days later Dr Liu made a will by 'marking a cross on a document prepared by a solicitor'.
He died just three weeks later having said it was his wish that his 34-year-old widow inherited their £430,000 home in Croydon, south London.
But Xuan Wu is now caught up in a highly charged legal dispute with Kun's Chinese parents, who say they loaned him large amounts of cash to buy the property, so he would have 'the best opportunity to succeed in life.'
His father Weidong Liu and mother Yali Kang, have now travelled across the globe to London's Central County Court to put their case against their daughter-in-law.
Kings College London medical statistician Dr Kun Liu died in 2015 aged 31 - his death has led to a bitter court battle between his widow and his parents over his money
Dr Liu married his girlfriend Xuan Wu (pictured outside court) despite claims his mother Yali Kang (right) openly 'disliked' her
The parents' barrister, Jason Nickless, claimed they poured over £325,000 into their son's hands from 2012 onward, firmly intending that he would ultimately repay the funds.
Kun, who made his life in the UK after getting his PhD at Manchester University, even 'invited them to retire to the UK and live with him', claimed Mr Nickless.
Weidong Liu claims the £325,000 his son used to buy a house in the UK was a loan not a gift that should be repaid
He asked them to transfer cash to buy a property and his parents duly obliged, the court heard.
'This money came from their life savings and money borrowed from their family,' their barrister explained.
The couple now seek a court ruling that they are entitled to a stake in their son's house in Mount Park Avenue, South Croydon.
'Alternatively, they say they are entitled to repayment of the sum they lent to Kun,' explained their barrister.
But Xuan Wu 'denies their claim in its entirety', the court heard.
Her barrister, Max Thorowgood, said the young couple became engaged in 2012 'with the consent of their parents'.
And while accepting that Kun's parents channelled large sums
