American Student Receives Life Sentence for Murder of Fellow Goldsmiths Student
An American student studying at a London university has been handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 16 years for the brutal murder of his sexual partner. The fatal stabbing occurred at the victim's flat in Manor Park, Lewisham, in southeast London.
Violent Confrontation Over Health Fears
Joshua Michals, a 26-year-old film-making student from Chicago, claimed during his trial at the Old Bailey that he acted in self-defence when he killed 31-year-old Zhe Wang. The court heard that Ms Wang, a Chinese national studying creative writing at Goldsmiths, University of London, suffered from germophobia and became convinced she had contracted a sexually transmitted disease after they had sex.
Prosecutor Henrietta Paget KC told the court that Michals had "flown into a rage" during their meeting at her flat on March 20, 2024. The pair had first met on campus and maintained an on-and-off casual relationship throughout 2023.
Fatal Attack and Attempted Cover-Up
Michals told jurors he visited Ms Wang's flat with a charcuterie selection to bring "normalcy" to what he described as a "bizarre situation." He claimed she attacked him with a knife when he emerged from the bathroom, forcing him to defend himself.
However, a post-mortem examination revealed Ms Wang died from two stab wounds to her face and compression to her neck. Judge Richard Marks KC dismissed Michals' self-defence claims, stating the evidence showed he had "become enraged by the whole situation" and "lost complete control of your temper and your senses."
The judge noted that the second facial wound involved "a use of severe force" and that Michals had then used "considerable force" to throttle Ms Wang with his forearm.
Aftermath and Family Impact
Following the attack, Michals called his father for legal advice before returning to his own flat and contacting emergency services. He also removed Ms Wang's phone from the kitchen and disposed of it in a bin outside, though it was later recovered from a refuse area in Newham.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, Ms Wang's cousin Xiao Li Wang described the family's devastation. "It was difficult to verbalise the emotions and heartbreak of losing a close family member," she said, adding that they initially believed news of her death was a scam.
Judge Marks described Ms Wang as "a hugely talented writer, a gentle and kindly young woman, private and sensitive and it would seem to me someone emotionally fragile."
Sentencing and Remorse
Michals, who wore a pale blue jumper over a white shirt during sentencing, was supported by his mother in the public gallery. His family had attended court throughout the trial.
Defence barrister Brian St Louis KC told the court his client "expresses that he deeply regrets what happened to Miss Wang," but Judge Marks noted this remorse came "extremely late in the day, not expressed during the trial."
The American student was found guilty of murder in December following the trial and received his life sentence at the same court. The minimum term of 16 years means he will not be eligible for parole until serving at least that period in prison.
