Police are confident they have found the remains of missing Christchurch real estate agent Yanfei Bao. Video / NZ Herald
Tingjun Cao was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Yanfei Bao in June 2023.
Cao was removed from the courtroom because of disruptive behaviour and watched the sentencing via videolink.
Bao’s family delivered emotional victim impact statements, highlighting the profound loss and grief caused by her murder.
The man who murdered Christchurch real estate agent Yanfei Bao has been jailed for life after an almost day-long sentencing hearing – drawn out and delayed by his frequent angry and bizarre outbursts and interruptions.
Tingjun Cao, 53, has been ordered to serve a minimum non-parole period of 17years and six months.
Tingjun Cao has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Yanfei Bao in June 2023. Photo / Iain McGregor / POOL
The Chinese national spent much of today in the High Court at Christchurch before Justice Lisa Preston.
He was taken to another courtroom to watch his own sentencing via videolink. He sat in the dock there with his head in his hands, muted to avoid any further disruption.
Later, he could be seen sitting on the floor with his eyes closed, possibly asleep or facing the wall.
Cao’s lawyer, Colin Eason, told the court his client did not understand it was a sentencing hearing and thought it was a chance for him to “appeal” his conviction.
The killer also told the court his lawyers were not doing what he told them to do, and he indicated he wanted to sack them. After a brief adjournment to meet with them, they remained in court to represent him.
Justice Lisa Preston presided over the sentencing at the High Court at Christchurch. Photo / George Heard
In New Zealand, offenders can be removed from the courtroom during sentencing if their behaviour is disruptive and it is impractical to continue with them present.
The presiding judge has the authority to remove the defendant and, if necessary, the sentencing can proceed in their absence.
Once Cao was removed, Bao’s family were invited to read victim impact statements. Her father and sister read statements via videolink from China. Their names are permanently suppressed.
Losing Yanfei – a family’s heartache
Yanfei’s 11-year-old daughter, whose name is suppressed, wrote a statement for the court. It was read by a victim support advocate.
“You took my mummy away from me – and my life has not been the same since. I laugh less now because nothing feels as fun or as happy as it used to,” she said.
“My family is sad, and my house feels different. It is quieter and emptier. I miss my mummy every single day.”
She missed the way Yanfei made her feel safe.
“I miss her voice, her smell and the way she always knew how to make things better,” she said.
“Since mummy has been gone, I feel lonely a lot. Even when I am with other people, it is not the same without her. I try to be brave, but it’s really hard.
“Sometimes I just want to cry, but I also don’t want to make my dad and everyone else more sad than they already are.”
The girl said the hardest part was knowing Yanfei would not be there for the rest of her life.
“She won’t see me grow up. She won’t be there for my birthdays and my school events, or to help me when I need her. I won’t be able to tell her about my day or hear her say she’s proud of me,” she said.
“Losing her has left a hole in my heart that nothing can fill. I wish she was still here.”
Yanfei’s father said his heart was “filled with immense sorrow that words cannot convey”.
“My daughter... was the light of my and my wife’s lives. The most brilliant colour in our ordinary days and the greatest spiritual support and source of motivation... the most precious memory in our hearts, and her laughter was the most melodious tune,” he said.
“We often imagined her having a happy life ahead. But fate dealt us the cruellest blow... her passing has caused us immeasurable emotional trauma.
“We have endured the unbearable pain of losing a daughter, a wife and a mother... over the past year, our family has been engulfed in immense grief and struggled to accept this harsh reality. My wife and I, in particular, have deeply felt the sorrow of burying a child. Apart from our sorrow, we have been left with endless helplessness.
“What right did [he] have to take our precious daughter’s life? What right did he have to destroy our happiness and cause such a heinous impact on society? I believe [he] acted with deep malice.”
Yanfei Bao was described by her father as the greatest spiritual support and source of motivation for him and his wife. Photo / Supplied
Yanfei’s older sister told the court she was “overwhelmed with grief”.
“I find it impossible to describe the depth of my feelings,” she said.
“When we heard the news of her disappearance, it felt like the sky was falling. Helplessness and heartbreak consumed us. Every day, our family endured the agony of waiting and sorrow. Finally, at the end of July last year, the police informed us that my sister had been found... At that moment, my heart sank to the depths.
“The happiness and joy my sister brought to our family were destroyed by this murderer.”
Yanfei’s husband Paul Gooch said Cao had “heartlessly deprived” her whole family.
“She was a devoted wife and mother, and now we are left with the unbearable absence of her presence,” he said.
“We can no longer share in the joy of her laughter, the fullness of our lives with her, or the comfort of her warmth and love. The radiant light has been forever extinguished.
“The tragic circumstances surrounding Yanfei’s death cast a long shadow over me and the entire family.
“We find ourselves in a profound state of grief, grappling with the heart-wrenching questions that linger on. When did she first sense the peril to her life? How long did she endure the unimaginable suffering before her death?”
Gooch was haunted by Yanfei being “unable to defend herself” and “exposed her to the worst aspects of humanity”.
“Even though Yanfei was ultimately trying to help him, her life was tragically cut short by Cao’s cruel and twisted desires,” he said.
“It is incomprehensible to witness one person valuing another’s life so insignificantly, treating Yanfei’s existence as if it were mere collateral and devoid of worth.
Yanfei Bao's husband told the High Court she was a devoted wife and mother. Photo / Supplied
“It is beyond unbearable for me that I could not be there to offer her comfort in her final moments. Nothing can ease our sorrow, knowing her last hours were filled with unimaginable pain, brutality and terror. Cao’s sole intention was to inflict suffering upon her, and the horror of this will haunt us forever.”
Gooch said it was “profoundly tragic” that someone as loving and nurturing as Yanfei was taken “in such a brutal manner, particularly given the many dreams and aspirations she left unfulfilled”.
“Cao’s actions are inexcusable. He intentionally preyed upon an innocent woman, driven solely by a cruel desire to deceive and ultimately take her life,” he said.
“Cao is a very manipulative and dangerous individual who should never see the light of day again. His presence in society poses a risk that should not be tolerated.”
Gooch’s last words were directed straight at the killer.
“Cao, I hope you carry the weight of your actions every waking moment, torturing your soul,” he said.
“When stuck in your little cell and you’re condemned to the shadows of despair, I pray that you finally grasp the true magnitude of what you did and the deep, unending sorrow that has haunted our lives ever since.”
The sentencing of Tingjun Cao
Crown prosecutor Cameron Stuart sought a minimum non-parole period of at least 18 years.
He acknowledged the “chilling” victim impact statements and said the circumstances of Yanfei’s death “would strike fear in the hearts of New Zealanders”.
“A mother doing her job, being killed in the way that we’ve heard,” he said.
“Cao maintains his innocence. The Crown says that his position is untenable and his defence... was meritless. There is a mountain of evidence.”
Tingjun Cao at an earlier court hearing. Photo / George Heard.
Stuart said Cao acted with a high degree of “brutality, depravity and callousness”.
There was also an element of premeditation and a “continued course of highly callous conduct in the aftermath of the killing”.
That included taking a photograph of Yanfei shortly before she was buried, hiding her body and taking extensive action to cover up his crime before he tried to flee the country.
Stuart said those factors justified a minimum non-parole period, and he suggested a starting point of 18 years would be appropriate.
Cao’s lawyer said his client continued to maintain his innocence and “denies any involvement with the victim’s death”.
Cao had already instructed Eason to appeal his conviction.
Eason disagreed with the Crown on the level of brutality and callousness.
He asked Justice Preston to consider mitigating factors, including the “profound sense of isolation” Cao would experience in a New Zealand prison, particularly as he did not speak English, and “lengthy isolation” from his wife and sons aged 18 and 14.
He sought a minimum period of imprisonment of less than 17 years, saying the Crown’s request was “excessive” and any period over 17 years would be “manifestly unjust”.
After a short adjournment to consider the submissions, Justice Preston delivered her decision.
Cao sat looking at the floor throughout.
The spot where Yanfei's body was found. Photo / Joe Allison
“Only two people know what happened... and one of those is dead,” Justice Preston told Cao.
She said it was not necessary for her to determine whether Yanfei was sexually assaulted, but it was “abundantly clear” that is what Cao inflicted on the younger woman.
Justice Preston suspected there would have been “desperate resistance” by Yanfei as Cao violated her.
It was likely that Yanfei was still alive but incapacitated when Cao put her in the boot of his car. Forensic evidence pointed to Cao stabbing her to death as she lay there.
Cao claimed the evidence against him – including forensic, location, CCTV – was “sheer coincidence”. He maintains he has been mistaken for a man named “Mr Tang” who he said borrowed his car.
No Mr Tang was ever identified.
Justice Preston said it was obvious Cao had tried to evade responsibility for his offending and offered up a litany of lies to cover his tracks.
She said the story he “concocted” was “far-fetched and, frankly, ludicrous”.
“It was you... no one else,” she said.
The judge said no sentence she could impose would ever alleviate the pain Yanfei’s family was experiencing.
“This should never have happened to your beloved one,” she said.
The court had “scarce” information about Cao other than a brief description of his family and his move to New Zealand to work.
Cao has been married for 25 years but said he had not had any contact with his wife, who remained in China, for “many months”. He had “limited support” in New Zealand.
Justice Preston said a pre-sentence report was also “confined” but Cao, who was “fixated” on his trial and “perceived injustices”, had been assessed as being high risk of harm to others.
“There can be no doubt that this was particularly callous offending,” she said.
“On any view, this was a chilling course of conduct in which you showed absolutely no regard for your victim.
Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves led the investigation into Yanfei Bao's disappearance and murder. Photo / Joe Allison
“Yanfei was like so many of us, a much-loved and admired woman, who was working hard to provide a better life for herself and her family,” she said.
“She had a fundamental right to be safe in her place of work and return home at the end of the day.
“Violent men who harm women will not be tolerated in our community and New Zealand Police will hold offenders to account.
“Violent men should feel under threat, not women and girls going about their lives.”
Reeves said while there was no outcome that could bring Yanfei back, she hoped today’s sentencing brought her loved ones some semblance of closure as they continue to adjust to life without her.
“Once again, I would like to acknowledge Yanfei’s family, both here in New Zealand and in China, who have shown nothing but strength, grace and courage over the last two years,” she said
“We would also like to thank all the members of our community who have provided valuable information since day one of our investigation. Your support, your observations, and your willingness to assist the investigation and prosecution directly contributed to this successful result.”
The murder of Yanfei Bao
Yanfei, 44, was killed on July 19, 2023.
Cao, whom she had met briefly once, sent Bao a message asking if she had any houses on the market as a friend in China wanted to buy a property.
The mother of one replied she had several for sale around the city and asked what the buyer’s needs were. Cao allegedly replied his friend wanted a three-bedroom house up to $650,000 in a good location.
They arranged to meet at a property on Trevor St, Hornby.
Yanfei Bao's discarded and damaged phone, which was found on a roadside the day after she disappeared. Photo / Supplied
Closed-circuit television showed each of them arriving at the house. Yanfei was never seen leaving.
She was reported missing later that day when she failed to pick up her young daughter from school.
In the days after, Yanfei’s cellphone and car were found, but there was no trace of her.
Police identified Cao as a suspect early on after a member of the public reported him behaving strangely in a suburban street near where Yanfei’s phone was found.
Cao was being watched by police when he attempted to flee the country. He was arrested at Christchurch Airport after purchasing a one-way ticket to China.
He was initially charged with kidnapping Yanfei. Later, police found enough evidence to satisfy them he had killed her.
While Cao awaited his trial in prison, police continued to search for Yanfei.
Tingjun Cao stood trial at the High Court at Christchurch and in the early stages fired his lawyer and chose to represent himself. Photo / George Heard
On July 30, 2024, after cracking the code on her phone and unlocking vital GPS data, they found the place Cao had hidden his victim’s body.
Cao went on trial in the High Court at Christchurch before Justice Preston and a jury.
In the early stages of the trial, Cao fired his lawyer, choosing to represent himself.
He then mounted a prolonged and unusual self-defence, claiming the evidence against him was planted by police and that a man named Mr Tang killed Yanfei.
But the Crown had a strong case against Cao, including forensic, CCTV and phone data that backed up their narrative of the crime.
It took the jury just 97 minutes to return a unanimous guilty verdict.
Anna Leask is a senior journalist who covers national crime and justice. She joined the Herald in 2008 and has worked as a journalist for 19 years with a particular focus on family and gender-based violence, child abuse, sexual violence, homicides, mental health and youth crime. She writes, hosts and produces the award-winning podcast A Moment In Crime, released monthly on nzherald.co.nz.
