A 26-year-old American student from Chicago, Joshua Michals, has been convicted of murdering his girlfriend, Zhe Wang, 31, in her London apartment. The prosecution revealed that Michals contacted his father for legal advice as Wang lay critically injured. The incident occurred after Wang accused Michals of transmitting a sexually transmitted infection (STI) to her during their only sexual encounter.
Michals, visibly distressed, was found guilty of the murder that took place on March 20, 2024, at the Old Bailey in London. His father, David Michals, is a vice president of sales strategy for a Chicago-based company. Michals claimed that Wang had attacked him with a knife and that her death was an accident that occurred while he was defending himself. His parents, who financed his defense, were present in court when their son was convicted.
Michals was pursuing a master’s degree in filmmaking at Goldsmiths, University of London. He identified himself as a cinematographer, photographer, and drone pilot on his LinkedIn profile. He had previously graduated from DePaul University in August 2022 with a BFA in cinematography and film/video production.
Wang, who was known for her meticulous cleanliness, had accused Michals of giving her an STI after she developed a rash. The couple had been dating for six months and had only been intimate once in February 2024. Wang was known to disinfect Michals’ furniture before sitting and clean his apartment during her visits. She had even sent Michals detailed instructions on hygiene practices before their intimate encounter.
Wang had insisted on seeing Michals’ STI test results before their sexual encounter. However, after developing a rash, possibly due to the morning-after pill, she demanded another test. When Michals refused, Wang threatened to report him to the university. The couple also had disagreements over their relationship’s seriousness and Wang’s frustration over Michals’ lack of time for her.
On the day of the murder, Michals visited Wang’s apartment intending to make a charcuterie board to appease her. However, an argument ensued, and Michals stabbed Wang twice in the face and choked her before leaving. Prosecutors believe Wang could have survived if Michals had called an ambulance immediately instead of contacting his father for a lawyer.
“This case concerns the killing of a young woman by a man she’d only been seeing a few short months. This was a brutal and savage attack. She was killed in her own bedroom,” prosecutor Henriette Paget told the judge. Wang, an aspiring teacher, was studying for an MA in creative writing and education at Goldsmiths, University of London. The couple had met while Wang was collecting her student ID card. Michals’ sentencing will be scheduled at a later date convenient for both his parents and Wang’s family.