The Goldsmiths community in London has been left reeling after a violent attack claimed the life of one of its students.
Zhe Wang, a 31-year-old MA student in Creative Writing and Education, was brutally murdered by her on-off boyfriend, Joshua Michals, a 26-year-old American student studying filmmaking.
The horrifying nature of the crime has left friends, family, and colleagues struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.
The Murder and Chilling Aftermath
On March 20, 2024, Michals stabbed Ms Wang twice in the face and strangled her, leaving her to die in her Lewisham flat. In a shocking twist, he did not call for help immediately.
Instead, Michals phoned his father—a high-ranking sales executive in the U.S.—to get the details of a solicitor, before taking an Uber back to his own flat.
It was only hours later that he contacted the emergency services, attempting to shift blame onto Ms Wang by claiming she had attacked him first.
Judge Richard Marks, presiding at the Old Bailey, described Michals as “callous and thinking only of yourself.”
The judge noted that Michals failed to check Ms Wang’s pulse, breathing, or take any steps to save her life, emphasizing that she might have survived had he acted immediately.
“In your fury, you lost complete control of your temper and your senses,” the judge stated.
Family and Friends Remember Zhe Wang
The victim’s cousin, Xiao Li Wang, delivered a heartfelt victim impact statement, highlighting Zhe’s love for the UK and the joy she brought to those around her.
She described Zhe as “positive, hard-working, and passionate about life” and recalled the family’s initial disbelief upon receiving news of her death.
“We thought it was some sort of scam—nobody wanted to believe it,” she said, noting the heartbreak of losing someone treated like a sister.
The Events Leading Up to the Attack
According to court testimony, a dispute over a potential sexually transmitted infection (STI) escalated the day before the murder.
Zhe, described as germophobic, discovered a red mark on her skin and demanded Michals take a test.
The following day, Michals visited Zhe’s flat under the pretense of easing the tension, bringing a charcuterie board.
What started as a tense conversation escalated into a fatal struggle.
Michals claimed he saw Ms Wang holding a knife and acting “possessed” before the attack, but the jury rejected this account.
Evidence showed that he attempted to cover his tracks by deleting WhatsApp messages, although police were able to recover them.
Trial and Conviction
During the trial, Michals denied murder, but the jury found him guilty.
His defense counsel expressed that Michals “deeply regrets” his actions, though the judge dismissed this as remorse “extremely late in the day.”
The court also heard that the couple had only been casually seeing each other for a few months, with Ms Wang concerned about Michals’ lack of clarity regarding the relationship.
Remembering Zhe Wang’s Life and Legacy
Friends and faculty remember Zhe Wang as a quiet, gentle, and reflective student.
Dr. Francis Gilbert, senior lecturer at Goldsmiths, described her as “a wonderful student, a remarkable writer, and a thinker who blended Buddhist thought, imaginative storytelling, and reflective clarity.”
Her writing, which explored mindfulness, meditation, and creativity, will feature in an upcoming anthology.
Ms Wang’s tutor recalled her as funny, organized, and deeply engaged in her studies, while family and friends continue to mourn her generosity, joy, and thoughtful nature.
Her sudden death has left a profound void in the lives of all who knew her.
Life Sentence for Joshua Michals
Michals, who hails from Chicago and lived alone in an upmarket flat in Greenwich, was sentenced to life in prison, with the minimum term reflecting his nearly two years in custody awaiting trial.
He will now have to face the full consequences of his actions, as authorities emphasized the dangerous and violent nature of the attack.
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