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Failed Southampton IT student guilty of revenge attack murder
Overview
Deepak Sandhu, a 24-year-old failed IT student from Southampton, has been found guilty at the Old Bailey of murdering 39-year-old Chinese national Xiaoqing Ke in a planned knife attack at an Airbnb in London. Sandhu had become obsessed with the victim, whom he met at a Southampton brothel, and killed her after she cut ties following a theft. He was also convicted of perverting the course of justice and is scheduled to be sentenced on Friday.
Key points
- Deepak Sandhu was found guilty of murdering Xiaoqing Ke in a sustained knife attack at a London Airbnb on 9 December 2025.
- The pair met while Ke was working at a brothel in Southampton, and their relationship deteriorated after Sandhu stole money from her.
- Sandhu bought knives from a supermarket and disguised his face with a scarf and baseball cap before visiting her flat.
- Following the murder, Sandhu changed his phone's SIM card, lied to his sister about a supposed 'professional' killer, and attempted to flee the country to Mumbai.
- Police arrested Sandhu on a National Express coach travelling to Birmingham airport, and a jury found him guilty of murder and perverting the course of justice.