A British Columbia lawyer says his clients are trying to comprehend why a family member was the victim of an alleged gruesome murder in West Vancouver's upscale British Properties.

Police were called to a house in the tiny neighbourhood earlier this month after receiving reports of a violent confrontation.

They announced 54-four-year-old Li Zhao had been charged with interfering with a dead body, and days later said the West Vancouver man was also facing a charge of second-degree murder.

Lawyer Chris Johnson said during a news conference on Wednesday that his clients are trying to understand why their family member, Gang Yuan, was allegedly cut up into more than 100 pieces.

Johnson says a court battle has also erupted over Yuan's estate, noting the West Vancouver home was in the name of the accused and his wife for tax reasons.

He says the family is torn apart because the accused is married to Yuan's cousin.