Lin family victim sent gifts before murder

In the year before Lily Lin was allegedly murdered by her brother-in-law Robert Xie, she was suspected of leaving a series of unwanted gifts at her neighbour's door, a court has heard.

The battered bodies of Lily, her husband Min Lin, her sister Irene and her two sons Henry, 12, and Terry, 9, were found in their North Epping home in Sydney's northwest in July 2009.

Adam Pearson, who lived next door to the Lins in 2007 and 2008, told Xie's trial on Friday that soon after he and his partner Matthew Webb moved into the house they began receiving packages with cards addressed to a Doctor Keith Ong.

He said they received a Valentine's Day card, a Christmas card and possibly a birthday card.

In one was a message reading, "Don't let our friendship fade like a blossom on a tree".

Mr Pearson told the Supreme Court he believed the gifts were left by Ms Lin but said they did not want to return them as they didn't want to cause any conflict in the family.

After receiving something every day for a week, Mr Pearson said, they discovered a surgeon in North Epping by the name of Dr Ong and made contact.

They were later telephoned by his wife.

Mr Pearson said the wife told them Ms Lin was a former patient who had become "obsessed" with her husband.

They eventually received so much stuff they gave it to charity, he said.

The Crown alleges Xie was driven by intense bitterness and hatred when he crept into the Sydney home of his brother-in-law in the early hours of July 18, 2009.

He denies these allegations.

The trial continues.