Overview
- Old Bailey Judge Richard Marks sentenced Michals on January 30, 2026, after a December jury conviction for murder.
- Zhe Wang, 31, was found dead at her Manor Park, Lewisham flat on March 20, 2024 with two stab wounds to the face and compression to the neck.
- Prosecutors said the killing followed a dispute after Ms Wang believed she had contracted an STI, and the judge found Michals lost control in a rage.
- Michals called his father for a solicitor, delayed a 999 call for hours, deleted WhatsApp messages, and dumped Ms Wang’s phone, which police later recovered.
- The court heard victim-impact statements and tributes to Ms Wang’s talent and kindness, and time already spent on remand will count toward the minimum term.