PHOTO: FILE
The trial of Tingjun Cao, accused of the murder of Christchurch real estate agent Yanfei Bao, is set to begin, potentially revealing the motive behind her tragic death. Bao, a Chinese national, disappeared on July 19, 2023, sparking widespread concern across New Zealand.
She was last seen in the Hornby suburb, about to meet a client at a property on Trevor Street. Shortly after her disappearance, police charged 53-year-old Tingjun Cao with kidnapping, and later with murder, even though Bao’s body had not been found. Over a year later, in August 2024, police located her remains in a shallow grave in rural Greenpark, south of Christchurch.
House associated with the alleged murder of Yanfei Bao has been sold
Cao, who does not speak English and will have interpreters throughout the trial, denies the charges. The case will be heard by Justice Lisa Preston and a jury of 12, with the trial expected to last six weeks. The Crown, led by experienced prosecutors Pip Currie and Cameron Stuart, will call witnesses from both New Zealand and China, including Bao’s family, police officers, and forensic experts.
The crucial unanswered question is why Bao was killed. Police have yet to reveal the motive, which is expected to be addressed during the Crown’s opening statements. Bao’s last known communication was a call to a friend through WeChat, where she inquired about transferring $600,000 from China to buy a home in Christchurch.
The breakthrough that led police to find missing real estate agent
Police used a range of technological tools, including cellphone data polling and triangulation, to locate Bao’s body, with a significant breakthrough coming from information received six to eight weeks before her discovery.
As the trial unfolds, the public will finally learn more about the circumstances surrounding Bao’s death and whether justice will be served for the Christchurch community.
Man named and charged with the homicide of a real estate agent
SOURCE: THE PRESS