American Goldsmiths student stabbed fellow student to death ‘before calling his father for a solicitor’
An American student at a London university has been found guilty of fatally stabbing a fellow student.
Chinese national Zhe Wang, 31, a creative writing student at Goldsmiths, University of London, was found dead with two stab wounds to his face in his flat in Manor Park in Lewisham, south-east London, on March 20, 2024.
Fellow student Joshua Michals, 26, ‘went into a rage’ before killing him, a hearing at the Old Bailey was told.
The jury found Michals guilty of murder on Monday after 16 and a half hours of deliberations.
During the trial, prosecutor Henrietta Paget KC said Michals “went into a rage” and killed Ms Wang after meeting her at her home.
They first met on the Goldsmiths campus and began an on-and-off casual relationship in 2023.
The hearing heard that Michals called his father after the incident and obtained information from a lawyer before going to his own flat and calling 999.
He also took Ms. Wang’s phone from her kitchen and put it in a trash can outside, jurors had previously heard.
It was found days later in a landfill in Newham, east London.
Michals told jurors that he felt “so so so” about getting involved with Ms. Wang because she was germophobic.
The court had previously heard that after finding a “red spot” on her skin after sexual intercourse, he demanded that the woman take an STD test, even promising to find her on campus and “drag” her to a GP.
The student said he went to her house on March 20, 2024, with his selection of deli items, to bring some “normalcy” to the “weird situation.”
He claimed that when he arrived at the flat in Lewisham he found Ms Wang “cold” and monosyllabic and that Wang attacked him with a knife as he left the bathroom.
In the autopsy examination performed at the hearing, it was determined that Ms. Wang died due to stab wounds to her head and pressure applied to her neck.
Michals had previously told jurors that he did not want to hit Ms Wang with the knife, saying: “I just wanted to push her away from me.”
Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Michals studied filmmaking at university before moving to London to study for a one-year master’s degree at Goldsmiths.
The University of London paid tribute to Zhe Wang following the verdict and regretted the loss of a “remarkable writer” whose work will be published posthumously in a forthcoming Goldsmiths anthology.
Dr D., senior lecturer at Goldsmiths School of Mind, Body and Society. Francis Gilbert said: “We are devastated by the loss of Zhe Wang, a brilliant student, a remarkable writer, and a thinker who combined deep intellectual curiosity with creative courage and approached writing as a mindful practice.
“His work blended Buddhist thought, creative storytelling, and reflective clarity in a way that distinguished him as a unique and singular voice.
“He was preparing to publish his work and we will honor his intentions by including his writings in the upcoming Goldsmiths anthology.
“Zhe was cheerful, attentive and generous. He was deeply loved by his peers, who continue to speak of his kindness, sense of humor and thoughtful presence. He made our community kinder and more attentive.
“His classmates continue to mourn his loss and remember him with deep affection, remembering the warmth of his presence and the inspiration he so generously offered to others.
“We will always miss Zhe.
“His writings continue to enlighten our community and his memory remains a source of tenderness, inspiration and care for Goldsmiths.
“Once again, we send our deepest condolences to his family who are suffering with an intensity that speaks to the depth of their love for Zhe.
“His poem Ode to the Foolish Bee reflects much of what distinguishes Zhe’s writing: compassion, humor, gentle insight, and a desire to guide others without harming them.
“The exit points just above the glass, but it flies away in vain, which forces me. A towel in my hand, the gentle guide is at his side, trying not to cause harm. He freed himself as he escaped.”
Michals, of Deals Gateway in south-east London, will be sentenced at a later date.
