Latest news with #TingjunCao
RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
Christchurch real estate agent Yanfei Bao's killer Tingjun Cao sentenced to at least 17 years in jail
Tingjun Cao is removed from the court room during his sentencing for the murder of real estate agent Yanfei Bao. Photo: CHRIS SKELTON Chinese national Tingjun Cao will spend at least 17 years behind bars for murdering Christchurch real estate agent Yanfei Bao. Her family told the High Court at Christchurch of the unbearable absence of Bao from their lives since the 44-year-old disappeared from Hornby in July 2023. Bao's 11-year-old daughter told the court: "My family is sad and our house feels different. It is quieter and emptier." Cao killed Bao in July 2023 after luring her to a Hornby home she was selling. On Friday, Justice Lisa Preston sentenced Cao to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 17 and a half years. Cao was earlier removed from the court by Corrections officers after he regularly interjected and interrupted the hearing with outbursts. Immigration New Zealand said it would now consider enforcement action against Cao. In victim impact statements read to the court on their behalf, Bao's family called for the judge to impose the harshest possible sentence and outlined the immeasurable trauma and loss they had suffered. Bao's daughter, who had name suppression, told the killer: "You took my mummy away from me and my life has not been the same since". "I laugh less now because nothing feels as fun or as happy as it used to. "I miss my mummy every single day. I miss the way she used to do my hair, cook for me and make me feel safe. I miss her voice, her smell and the way she always knew how to make things better. "Since mummy has been gone, I feel lonely a lot. Even when I am with other people, it is not the same without her." Bao's husband, Paul Gooch, said he was still haunted by her final moments. "We find ourselves in a profound state of grief, grappling with the heart-wrenching questions that linger," he said. "When did she first sense the peril to her life? For how long did she endure the unimaginable suffering before her death? The deep sorrow of her pain continues to resonate within us all." Gooch paid tribute to his partner. "Nineteen months ago we were heartlessly deprived of Yanfei. She was a devoted wife and mother and now we are left with the unbearable absence of her presence," he said. "We can no longer share in the joy of her laughter, the fullness of our lives with her, or the comfort of her warmth and love. Her radiant light has been forever extinguished." Gooch's father, David Gooch, called Cao a "despicable monster". "You took Yanfei - a wife, a mother and daughter - for your own gratification and created a huge hole in all our hearts, which will never be filled. We are all heartbroken and are lost without Yanfei," he said. Bao's 74-year-old father, who had name suppression and spoke to the court via audio-visual link from China, said he wished he was present for the hearing. "What right did the defendant have to take my daughter's precious life. What right did they have to destroy our happiness and cause such a heinous impact on society?" prosecutor Cameron Stuart translated on the man's behalf. "In this case, the facts of the defendant's deliberate murder are clear and the evidence is irrefutable. I believe the perpetrator acted with deep malice, used particularly cruel means, caused especially severe consequences, and had a highly adverse social impact. "After being apprehended, the defendant demonstrated a poor attitude, evading responsibility and refusing to plead guilty, which greatly hindered the police and courts investigation. Furthermore, neither the defendant nor their family have ever apologised to the victim's family, showing no remorse whatsoever. Therefore, I solemnly request that the court, in order to uphold the dignity of the law, ensure judicial fairness and maintain social stability, convict and sentence the defendant to the highest penalty according to the law." He also described the immense suffering the family had suffered with the loss of a loved daughter and sister. "My heart at this moment is filled with immense sorrow which words cannot adequately convey," Bao's father said. "My daughter was an intelligent, kind, brave and resilient, modern Chinese woman, full of positivity. She was the light of my wife's and my life, the most brilliant colour in our ordinary days and the greatest spiritual support and source of motivation during our families tough times. "Every stage of her growth was the most precious memory in our hearts, and her laughter was the most melodious tune in our home. Filling it with love and hope throughout the seasons." Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves paid tribute to Bao and her family following the sentencing. "A dedicated investigation team, supported by our forensic specialist partners, has worked tirelessly since July 2023 to tell Yanfei's story and seek a resolution for her and her loved ones. I speak on behalf of all the staff involved when I say this case will stay with us forever," Reeve said. "Once again, I would like to acknowledge Yanfei's family, both here in New Zealand and in China, who have showed nothing but strength, grace and courage over the last two years. "Yanfei was, like so many of us, a much loved and admired woman who was working hard to provide a better life for herself and her family. She had a fundamental right to be safe in her place of work and return home at the end of the day. "Violent men who harm women will not be tolerated in our community and New Zealand Police will hold offenders to account. Violent men should feel under threat, not women and girls going about their lives. "While there is no outcome that can bring Yanfei back to her family, we hope that today's sentencing can bring them some closure, as they continue to adjust to life without her. This is just one part of the healing process and I hope her family can take some comfort knowing the person responsible has been held to account for his actions." As court began on Friday morning, Cao made protestations about evidence he claimed would demonstrate his innocence, leading to Justice Preston closing the court to the public to address the outbursts. However, when court resumed, Cao again leapt to his feet and began interrupting. As Corrections officers escorted him from the court, he continued speaking loudly and gesticulating. His final protest came as he ripped up his papers, bundled them into a ball and threw them to the ground. Cao was forced to watch the remainder of the hearing from another courtroom. His seven-week jury trial last year was also marked by Cao's odd displays. He sacked his defence lawyers during the trial and represented himself with the help of a trio of interpreters. Justice 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. However, Cao claimed he was at the centre of a conspiracy and police officers had lied, fabricated, planted and doctored evidence 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 claims of innocence or the case. Cao lured the 44-year-old Yanfei Bao to the Hornby home on 19 July 2023 under the pretence of wanting to view the property. There he attacked her, bundled her into the boot of his car and drove her to a remote rural road near Lincoln where he killed her. He buried her in a shallow grave along the treeline of a farm in Greenpark where police found her remains almost a year later. Bao's husband 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 southern motorway two days later. Cao was arrested on his way to 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. RNZ asked Immigration New Zealand if a deportation order had been sought for Cao, national manager compliance Damon Tredaway said: "we will consider any appropriate enforcement actions once the court proceedings have concluded". Cao would not be eligible for parole until 2041. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
Midday Essentials for Friday 13 June 2025
crime world 1:45 pm today In today's episode, family members and friends of passengers who were on board the crashed plane have gathered in Ahmedabad's hospital for DNA tests to help identify their loved ones, there are reports that Israel is attacking Iran - with explosions heard northeast of Iran's capital Tehran a short time ago, the sentencing for Tingjun Cao for murdering real estate agent Yanfei Bao in July 2023 has got under way in Christchurch, and Indian communities in Auckland are holding a vigil on Friday for the hundreds of lives lost in the Air India plane crash.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- RNZ News
Yanfei Bao's killer Tingjun Cao removed from court after interrupting sentencing
Tingjun Cao is removed from court on Friday. Photo: CHRIS SKELTON The man who murdered Christchurch real estate agent Yanfei Bao has been removed from his own sentencing hearing after constant outbursts and interjections. Chinese national Tingjun Cao attacked Bao in July 2023 after luring her to a Hornby home she was selling, before killing her and burying her body in farmland. He continues to protest his innocence, blaming a fictional Mr Tang for the murder. Justice Preston closed the court to the public this morning following Cao's outbursts. Photo: CHRIS SKELTON As the sentencing hearing began this morning, Cao would interrupt in Mandarin and gesticulate towards his lawyers. He made protestations about evidence he claimed would demonstrate his innocence, leading to Justice Lisa Preston closing the court to the public to address his outbursts. However, when court resumed, Cao again leapt to his feet and began interrupting in Mandarin. As a result, Justice Preston ordered Cao be removed from the court. As Corrections officers escorted him from the court, he continued speaking loudly and gesticulating. His final protest came as he ripped up his papers, bundled them into a ball and threw them to the ground. His seven-week jury trial last year was also marked by Cao's odd displays. He sacked his defence lawyers during the trial 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. However, Cao claimed he was at the centre of a conspiracy and police officers had lied, fabricated, planted and doctored evidence 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 claims of innocence or the case. Cao lured the 44-year-old Yanfei Bao to the Hornby home on 19 July 2023 under the pretence of wanting to view the property. There he attacked her, bundled her into the boot of his car and drove her to a remote rural road near Lincoln where he killed her. He buried her in a shallow grave along the treeline of a farm in Greenpark where police found her remains almost a year later. Bao's partner, 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 southern motorway two days later. Cao was arrested on his way to 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. Following the jury's guilty verdict Gooch yelled at Cao: "You might want to get a refund on that plane ticket you scum bag". The Sentencing Act contained a presumption convicted murderers would be sentenced to life imprisonment unless such a sentence was manifestly unjust. If Justice Preston sentenced to life, Cao would spend no less than a decade behind bars, but the judge could also engage section 104 of Sentencing Act which allowed judges to impose a non-parole period of at least 17 years for particularly egregious murders. Cao is now watching his sentencing hearing from another courtroom. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- RNZ News
Yanfei Bao's killer Tingjun Cao removed from after interrupting sentencing
Tingjun Cao is removed from court on Friday. Photo: CHRIS SKELTON The man who murdered Christchurch real estate agent Yanfei Bao has been removed from his own sentencing hearing after constant outbursts and interjections. Chinese national Tingjun Cao attacked Bao in July 2023 after luring her to a Hornby home she was selling, before killing her and burying her body in farmland. He continues to protest his innocence, blaming a fictional Tang for the murder. Justice Preston closed the court to the public this morning following Cao's outbursts. Photo: CHRIS SKELTON When court resumed, Cao continued to interrupt proceedings. Justice Preston ordered he be removed from the court. As Corrections officers escorted him from the court, he ripped up his papers and threw them to the ground. Cao will now watch the hearing from another courtroom. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- RNZ News
Tingjun Cao to be sentenced for murder of Christchurch real estate agent Yanfei Bao
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 at Bao: "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. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
