A US student has been convicted of murdering a fellow university student after police recovered deleted phone messages exposing their troubled relationship.
Joshua Michals Found Guilty of Murdering Zhe Wang
Joshua Michals, 26, a US national studying in London, was convicted of killing 31-year-old Zhe Wang. The two had been in a casual relationship before her tragic death.
Despite Michals’ efforts to wipe all digital and physical traces from the crime scene, detectives recovered deleted messages and forensic evidence linking him to the murder.
Disturbing Messages and Timeline Uncovered
On 20 March 2024, Michals called 999 reporting a “serious incident” at a Manor Park address but claimed he was no longer there. Police found Zhe with stab wounds to her face. A post-mortem revealed she had also suffered neck compression.
Michals was arrested that evening but refused to answer questions about his relationship with Zhe or the events leading to her death.
Forensics on his phone revealed a chat history showing the pair met after starting at Goldsmiths University in autumn 2023. The messages uncovered months of tension, with Zhe repeatedly demanding Michals get tested for sexually transmitted infections.
On the night of the murder, Zhe arranged to meet him to discuss the matter. Michals’ last message read “here” at 7:17pm. Phone records showed he left the address 40 minutes later, returning home to wait hours before dialing 999 at 11:08pm.
Chilling Evidence Found at Michals’ Home
Police discovered bloodstained clothing at Michals’ residence, with DNA confirming it belonged to Zhe.
Detective Inspector Claire Guiver said: “Michals carried out a brutal and savage attack on Zhe, who was described by her friends as a quiet and gentle woman enjoying her studies in London. Our thoughts remain with her family and friends, both in China and the UK. We are committed to tackling violence against women and girls and making London safer.”
“The jury saw through his false claims that he killed Zhe by accident during an alleged knife attack on him. Michals is a dangerous, violent individual and will now face the full consequences.”
