Full Breakdown
Indian Student Convicted of Murdering Chinese National in London Airbnb
By Drooid · · How we work
Murder Conviction and Core Facts
On 10 December 2025, Deepak Sandhu, a 24-year-old Indian national, entered an Airbnb flat on Old Brompton Road in Earl’s Court, west London, armed with knives purchased at a supermarket. He fatally stabbed Xiaoqing Ke, a 39-year-old Chinese citizen, within approximately 90 minutes. The Ring doorbell camera recorded Sandhu’s arrival wearing a baseball cap and a scarf that concealed his face, and his departure after the killing. Police recovered Sandhu’s blood and injuries to his arm at the scene. A jury at the Old Bailey deliberated for two hours before returning guilty verdicts for murder and for perverting the course of justice by attempting to flee the country.
Background and Relationship
Sandhu arrived in the United Kingdom on a student visa in September 2024 and enrolled at Southampton Solent University, where he was later expelled for poor attendance. His visa was revoked in March 2025. Xiaoqing Ke entered the UK on a standard visitor visa and worked at a brothel in Southampton. The two met there in early 2025, communicating primarily through the Google Translate app. Their interaction evolved into a “relationship of sorts,” according to the prosecution. Ke later moved to a rented Airbnb in London; during this period she discovered Sandhu had taken £500 from her handbag and confronted him. Sandhu repeatedly promised to repay the money and claimed he could help her obtain British citizenship, while also sending threatening messages that hinted at revenge.
Court Proceedings and Verdict
Sandhu denied involvement, asserting that Ke was alive when he left the flat and that a “professional” had killed her. After the murder, he changed the SIM card in his phone, sent a voice message to his sister claiming he had witnessed a professional killing, and booked a flight to Mumbai. He was apprehended on 12 December 2025 while travelling on a National Express coach from Southampton to Birmingham Airport.
Official Statements & Responses
- Prosecutor Caroline Carberry KC: Characterised Sandhu as an “obsessed, manipulative young man” whose actions constituted a “brutal and fatal revenge attack.”
- Judge Philip Katz KC: Ordered Sandhu into custody pending sentencing following the unanimous guilty verdicts.
- Sandhu’s Defense: Maintained that he was not a dangerous person and claimed he had been deceived by a “professional” killer.
Data and Timeline
- £500 stolen from Ke’s handbag (amount repeatedly referenced in court).
- 9 December 2025 – Sandhu travelled from Southampton to London, carrying a knife.
- 10 December 2025 – Murder of Xiaoqing Ke at the Airbnb flat.
- 12 December 2025 – Sandhu arrested en route to Birmingham Airport.
- Two-hour jury deliberation resulted in conviction for murder and perverting the course of justice.
Verbatim Quote
- “He claimed to be living with his sister in Southampton even though she was in India.” — Ms Carberry — Ms Carberry
Impact and Legal Context
The case underscores challenges in monitoring visa compliance and the potential for deception in online-mediated relationships. Sandhu’s revoked student visa and subsequent illegal presence in the UK were highlighted by the court, illustrating how immigration controls intersect with criminal investigations. The conviction also brings attention to the use of smart-home technology, such as doorbell cameras, in evidencing violent crimes.