Tingjun Cao in the Christchurch High Court wearing a bandage on his neck. Photo: NZME/George Heard
Chinese national Tingjun Cao will today be sentenced for the murder of Christchurch real estate agent Yanfei Bao.
Cao lured the 44-year-old to a Hornby home under the pretence of wanting to view the property before attacking her, putting her in the boot of his car and killing her on a remote rural road near Lincoln on 19 July, 2023.
He buried her in a shallow grave along the treeline of a farm in Greenpark where police found her remains almost a year later.
Missing Christchurch real estate agent Yanfei Bao Photo: RNZ / NZ Police
Bao's husband Paul Gooch reported her missing the day she vanished after discovering his wife had not collected her daughter from an after-school programme, had not come home for lunch and calls to her phone went unanswered.
Police found Bao's phone in grass beside the Christchurch Southern Motorway two days later.
Cao was arrested at Christchurch Airport in the days after her disappearance with a one-way ticket to Shanghai.
He was initially charged with Bao's kidnapping but the charged was later dropped. Cao was charged with murder in September 2023.
A jury found the 54-year-old guilty following a seven-week High Court trial, during which he sacked his defence lawyers and represented himself with the help of a trio of interpreters.
Justice Lisa Preston repeatedly warned Cao about asking irrelevant questions, making meandering and repetitive statements, and accusing witnesses of lying.
The prosecution described the case against Cao as an "absolute slam dunk" with compelling and overwhelming evidence demonstrating his guilt.
An abundance of digital data placed Cao and Bao together at the time of her disappearance and death and, ultimately, where her body was found.
DNA also linked the pair to the Hornby property from which Bao disappeared. Cao's palm print was found on her broken cellphone, including on the internal battery, and there was a photo of a naked woman's body taken by Cao's phone and later deleted.
His defence centred around a conspiracy and alternative perpetrator named Mr Tang, who Cao was unable to prove existed.
Cao claimed police officers had lied, fabricated, planted evidence and doctored images and videos to frame him.
In delivering his closing argument, he regularly turned and spoke to the glass panes of an empty dock and at other times rambled through measurements and minutiae which were difficult to link to his innocence or the case.
Following the guilty verdict Gooch yelled: "You might want to get a refund on that plane ticket you scum bag."
Tingjun Cao in the dock of the Christchurch High Court facing the jury on a charge of murder relating to real estate agent Yanfei Bao. Photo: The Press / Peter Meecham
Outside court, Gooch detailed the enormity of his family's loss.
"Coming to terms with this devastating loss has been an incredibly challenging journey, especially considering the complete lack of remorse displayed by the individual responsible," he said.
"His actions throughout this trial have highlighted a profound absence of humanity."
Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves paid tribute to Bao's family.
"This was no ordinary case and it will leave a lasting impact on all staff involved including myself," she said.
"We would like to acknowledge the strength of Yanfei Bao's family who have endured a terribly distressing experience.
"Our thoughts are with Yanfei's family and while the verdict has been reached, this is just one part of the healing process. I acknowledge the strength they have shown and, while the outcome does not bring Yanfei back, I hope they take some comfort knowing that the person responsible will be held accountable."
Justice Preston will sentence Cao at the High Court in Christchurch.
The Sentencing Act contains a presumption convicted murderers will be sentenced to life imprisonment unless such a sentence is manifestly unjust.
If sentenced to life, Cao would spend no less than a decade behind bars, but Justice Preston could also engage section 104 of Sentencing Act allowing judges to impose a non-parole period of at least 17 years for particularly egregious murders.
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