Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
an american student A man has been convicted of stabbing his girlfriend to death in a “brutal and brutal” attack at a London university.
Zhe Wang, a creative writing student Goldsmith, She was found dead with two knife wounds to the face at her flat in south-east London in March last year.
Prosecutor Henrietta Paget Casey told the Old Bailey trial that Joshua Michaels murdered Ms Wang after meeting her at her flat in Manor Park, Lewisham.
The court heard that after the fatal stabbing Michaels phoned his father and got a description from a solicitor before going to his flat and calling 999.
A jury found Michaels, 26, guilty of murder on Monday after deliberating 16 and a half hours.
The pair met at the Goldsmiths campus during the hearing and began a casual relationship in 2023.
Michaels told jurors he felt “so” about having sex with Ms Wang, a 31-year-old Chinese national, because he was afraid of germs.
After a “red dot” appeared on her skin after sex, he demanded she get an STD test, even vowing to find her on the premises to “drag” her to the doctor, the court previously heard.
The student said he went to her flat with a charcuterie selection on 20 March 2024 to bring some “normalcy” to a “bizarre situation”.
He claimed that when he arrived at the flat, he found Ms Wang “cold” and monosyllabic, and that when he came out of the bathroom she attacked him with a knife.
A post-mortem examination found that Ms Wang died from a knife wound to the head and compression of the neck, the trial heard.
Michaels had previously told jurors that he did not intend to attack Ms Wang with the knife, adding: “I just wanted to get her away from me.”
The court heard that Michaels took Ms Wang’s phone from her kitchen and placed it in a bin outside. It was recovered a few days later in a rubbish field in Newham, east London.
Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Michaels studied film production at university before moving to London to pursue a one-year master’s degree at Goldsmiths. He will be sentenced at a later date.
Met Police Detective Inspector Claire Guiver, who led the investigation, said: “Michaels carried out a brutal and brutal attack on Zeh, who was described by her friends as a quiet and gentle woman who enjoyed her studies in London.
“Our thoughts remain with her family and friends in both China and the UK. Our commitment to tackling violence against women and girls remains unwavering and we will continue to do everything we can to make London a safer city.”
“We are pleased that the jury has seen through his claims that he accidentally killed Zee when she tried to attack him with a knife. It is clear that Michaels is a dangerous, violent individual and he will now have to live with the consequences of his actions.”
Following the verdict the university paid tribute to Ms Wang, and expressed condolences at the passing of “a remarkable writer”, whose work will be published posthumously in an upcoming Goldsmiths anthology.
Dr Francis Gilbert, Senior Lecturer in the School of Mind, Body and Society at Goldsmiths, said: “We are devastated by the passing of Zhe Wang, who was a wonderful student, a remarkable writer and a thinker who combined deep intellectual curiosity with creative courage and saw writing as a conscious practice.
“His work blended Buddhist thought, imaginative storytelling and contemplative clarity in a way that marked him as a unique and singular voice.
“She was preparing to publish her work, and we will honor her intentions by including her writing in an upcoming Goldsmiths anthology.
“Zay was cheerful, alert, and generous. She was loved by her peers, who continue to talk about her gentleness, her humor, and her thoughtful presence. She made our community kinder and more attentive.
“His classmates are mourning his loss and remember him with deep affection, remembering the warmth of his presence and the inspiration he so generously gave to others.
“We will always miss Zay. His writing continues to illuminate our community, and his memory remains a source of tenderness, inspiration and care at Goldsmiths.”