Man shot 34 times in head with nail gun

An X-ray shows multiple nails embedded in the skull of 27-year-old Chen (Anthony) Liu that homicide squad detectives allege were fired from a high-powered nail gun in this police handout image made available April 24, 2009. Police believe Chen, whose decomposing body was discovered in Sydney's Georges River in November 2008, was killed by being shot repeatedly in the head with a high-powered nail gun.

CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australian police released Friday a shocking x-ray photo showing the skull of a murdered Chinese immigrant shot 34 times in the head and neck with a high-power nail gun.

The body of Chen Liu, 27, was found by two children last year in marshland in south Sydney, wrapped in a carpet and bound with electrical wire.

Detectives said the weapon used was a standard gas nail gun widely available and used in construction, firing nails up to 85mm (3.3 inches) long.

"In 36 years, I've never seen a murder of this nature," Homicide Squad Superintendent Geoff Beresford told reporters.

Liu arrived in Australia in 2000 and was reported missing last year.

(Reporting by Rob Taylor; Editing by Alex Richardson)