Deepak Sandhu convicted of murdering Xiaoqing Ke in west London

Centre · 2Deepak Sandhu, 24, was convicted at the Old Bailey on Thursday of murdering Xiaoqing Ke at a flat on Old Brompton Road, Earl's Court, west London, and of perverting the course of justice by trying to flee the country. 1 2 Centre · 2Prosecutor Caroline Carberry KC told the jury that Sandhu was an "obsessed, manipulative young man who could not accept her rejection of him" and carried out a "brutal and fatal revenge attack"; the Evening Standard also quoted her calling him a "fantasist". 1 2 Centre · 2The court heard the two met in Southampton and stayed in contact after Ms Ke moved to London. The relationship broke down after Ms Ke discovered Sandhu had taken £500 from her handbag. The Times of India, citing the Telegraph, reports Ms Ke worked at a brothel in Southampton where Sandhu was a customer. 1 2

Centre · 2Sandhu had presented himself as an actor and model. In reality his visa had been revoked and he was working as a labourer. The prosecution said other claims he made were also untrue, including that he was robbed at gunpoint in the US of £3,500 and had a bank job paying £6,000 a month. Sandhu admitted lying about being an actor and taking the money, saying he had struggled financially. 1 2 Centre · 2The two did not share a common language and used Google Translate, which let detectives trace their relationship through WhatsApp chats. After the breakup Sandhu messaged a friend that he would take revenge and predicted he would "become evil". He also pestered Ms Ke, including with a video of himself with fake £20 notes promising to repay her. Ms Ke wrote to him: "Don't come see me. I'm clear, I'm not a fool." 1 2 Centre · 2On 9 December 2025 Sandhu travelled from Southampton to Earl's Court. A doorbell camera showed him arriving at the flat in a baseball cap with his face covered, and he left about 90 minutes later. The Standard said he bought knives in Asda beforehand; the Times of India said he was carrying a knife. 1 2

Centre · 2Neighbours raised the alarm the next morning after seeing bloodstains on Ms Ke's door. Police found Ms Ke's body with stab wounds, and Sandhu's blood was found at the scene. The Standard reports multiple stab wounds on the bedroom floor; the Times of India reports a deep stab wound to the neck. 2 1 Centre · 2After the killing Sandhu changed his phone's SIM card and sent his sister a voice message claiming he had seen Ms Ke murdered by "a professional". He booked a one-way flight to Mumbai and was arrested on 12 December on a coach heading to Birmingham airport. 1 2 Centre · 1Sandhu denied killing Ms Ke and said she was alive when he left, telling the court: "I am not a dangerous man. I am not capable of killing." The Times of India says the jury deliberated for two hours. 2

Centre · 1Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Jolley, who led the investigation, said Sandhu had become fixated on Ms Ke and subjected them to "controlling and abusive messages" before deciding to end their life. Sandhu was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday. 1