Deepak Sandhu found guilty of Earl's Court Airbnb murder
A jury convicted the 24-year-old of killing Xiaoqing Ke after their relationship ended.
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Both sources cite the Met Police and prosecutor Caroline Carberry KC, with one also naming DCI Wayne Jolley.
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Deepak Sandhu, 24, has been found guilty of murdering Xiaoqing Ke, 39, at an Airbnb in Earl's Court. The conviction follows a "brutal and fatal revenge attack" that occurred after their relationship ended when Ms Ke discovered Sandhu had stolen £500 from her.
The attack and discovery
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Police were called to Lovett Drive on Friday morning following reports of an altercation.
Sandhu bought knives in Asda and travelled to the west London address on December 9 or 10, 2025. He was at Ms Ke's flat for 90 minutes, by which time she was dead, the Old Bailey heard. Neighbours raised the alarm the following morning after spotting bloodstains on Ms Ke's door. Police officers found her body on her bedroom floor with multiple stab wounds.
Prosecutor Caroline Carberry KC told the court that Sandhu was a "fantasist" and an "obsessed, manipulative young man who could not accept her rejection of him". The court heard that Sandhu had claimed to be a model and actor but had been removed from his IT course at Southampton Solent University and was working on building sites. His student visa had also been revoked. The pair communicated using the Google Translate app.
Attempt to flee
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Bartosz Poklek, 30, from Bexley, admitted running a large-scale network distributing videos of animal abuse.
After the killing, Sandhu changed the SIM card in his phone and sent a voice message to his sister claiming he had seen Ms Ke murdered by "a professional". He then booked a one-way flight to Mumbai. He was arrested by Metropolitan Police officers on a coach heading for Birmingham airport on December 12, 2025, before he could leave the country. He had denied responsibility for the killing, claiming Ms Ke was alive when he left her flat.
A jury deliberated for two hours on Thursday to reject Sandhu's version of events and find him guilty of murder and perverting the course of justice by attempting to flee the country. Sandhu was taken into custody.
What happens next
Sandhu is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Philip Katz KC on Friday at the Old Bailey.
Questions this report answers
+What was Deepak Sandhu found guilty of?
Deepak Sandhu, 24, was found guilty of murdering Xiaoqing Ke, 39, at an Airbnb in Earl's Court. He was also convicted of perverting the course of justice for attempting to flee the country.
+Why did the murder happen?
The murder occurred after their relationship broke down when Ms Ke discovered Sandhu had stolen £500 from her. He carried out what prosecutors described as a "brutal and fatal revenge attack".
+When will Deepak Sandhu be sentenced?
Sentencing for Deepak Sandhu is scheduled to take place on Friday at the Old Bailey. He has been placed into custody ahead of the sentencing hearing.
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