need to know
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Joshua Michals was found guilty of the 2024 murder of Wang Zhe in London, England
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Michaels, a Chicago native, and Wang had a casual relationship after meeting at Goldsmiths, University of London
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Wang asked Michals to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases before murder
An American man has been found guilty of murder in Britain after killing a woman with whom he had a “casual relationship” and who asked him to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases.
According to a press release from the Metropolitan Police, 26-year-old Joshua Michals was convicted of killing Wang Zhe, 31, a classmate at Goldsmiths College, University of London, in March 2024.
According to the release, Michaels called police on the day of the murder and said something serious had occurred, but he was no longer at the scene. Police said Wang was later found at the scene with two stab wounds to her face and neck compression.
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Joshua Michaels
Michaels was arrested that day and refused to answer questions about his relationship with Wang. However, police said they searched his phone and examined messages exchanged between the pair which showed signs of “a deterioration in their relationship”.
In the text messages, Wang repeatedly asked Michals to get tested for STDs.
“This led to growing tensions between the two, leading to Zhe requesting that he come in person to discuss the issue on March 20,” police said, according to the release. “The last message Michals sent to Zhe simply read ‘here’ and was sent at 19:17.”
During the trial, it was revealed that Michals first called his father after the incident, received a message from his lawyer, and then called police nearly four hours later, the BBC reported.
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When Michals was arrested, his clothes were found in his residence with blood stains on them, police said.
His lawyers argued at trial that Michals acted in self-defence when Wang attacked him with a knife, the BBC reported. He claimed Wang was angry and mistakenly believed she contracted an STD after having sex with Michaels, the outlet reported.
Michaels previously told jurors he had no intention of attacking Wang with the knife, saying: “I just wanted her to get away from me,” the BBC reported.
“Mihals carried out a brutal and savage attack on Zhe, described by her friends as a quiet, gentle woman who was enjoying her studies in London,” Detective Inspector Claire Guiver said in a statement on Monday, December 8. “Our thoughts remain with her family and friends in China and the UK.”
“We are pleased that the jury was able to see through his story that he accidentally killed Zhe when she tried to attack him with a knife. It is clear that Mijas is a dangerous, violent man who must now face the consequences of his actions,” the statement continued.
Michaels, who was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, was studying for a master’s degree at Goldsmiths College at the time of the incident, the BBC reported.
He will be sentenced at a later date.
Read the original article on People
