Man jailed for life after killing partner and sending picture of body to family

A man has been jailed for life after stabbing his partner to death and then “cruelly” sending a picture of her body to her family on WeChat.A man has been jailed for life after stabbing his partner to death and then “cruelly” sending a picture of her body to her family on WeChat.

Chinese national Yi Xing Song, 54, stabbed mother-of-two Li Qing Wang 22 times at the terraced house they shared in Leyton, east London, on February 25.

He then posted an image of her body on a WeChat group - the Chinese equivalent of WhatsApp.

The group included members of Ms Wang’s family, including her father, sister and nieces.

On Tuesday, Song pleaded guilty to the 35-year-old’s murder and was sentenced to life in jail with a minimum term of 19 years. Sentencing, Judge John Hillen told Song: “You have not only taken her life away from her but caused grief and loss to those who loved and cared for her.

“Ms Wang had family by her previous husband, a 12-year-old daughter and a son studying at university, who has been deeply affected by the loss of his mother in the touching and, one could almost say heart-rending, victim impact statement I have read.”

The judge said Song had believed Ms Wang was seeing another man, causing him “sleepless nights”.

On the day of the killing, he drank strong lager and red wine before launching a “ferocious” attack with a 6in knife.

Judge Hillen said: “While I accept your later remorse, at the time, in a drunken state or otherwise, you cruelly posted a photograph of Ms Wang’s dead body on an instant messaging service used by her father, sister and nieces.

“That caused her sister in China to ask for someone to check on Ms Wang’s welfare which some friends did.

“You opened the door and then went and lay down on the floor next to her body which was covered by a duvet.

“When police found you, you were still lying on the floor of the bedroom next to her body pretending to be unconscious.”

The court heard Song, who worked as a carpenter and labourer, had a history of depression and had struggled to find regular work.  

Reference: Evening Standard: Rebecca Speare-Cole 1 day ago: 02/09/2020