Chinese student charged with murder after girlfriend's body found in unit
A Chinese tertiary student will appear before a Sydney court charged with the murder of his 19-year-old girlfriend at an apartment complex in Sydney's south last year.
Weijie He, 21, was put into an induced coma after he was found seriously injured on the footpath in Chisholm Street, Wolli Creek, on the afternoon of June 27, having fallen from the fourth floor of a unit block on nearby Brodie Sparks Drive.
Police have charged a 21-year-old Chinese student with murder over the death of his 19-year-old girlfriend, Liqun Pan.Credit:NSW Police
He was taken to St George Hospital, where he is still receiving treatment.
The following day, police found the body of Liqun Pan, also a Chinese national on a student visa, inside a unit at the complex and investigated her death after deeming it suspicious.
Ms Pan, also known as Pan Pan, had suffered significant injuries.
She was studying English at a language school in Elizabeth Street in Sydney's CBD. She had lived in Australia for several years and had returned to China to visit her family about Christmas time.
St George Police Area Command crime manager Detective Inspector Robert Alison said at the time of Ms Pan's death that her family was doing well, given the situation.
"It is horrific. I really do feel for the [Pan] family. The distance being so far away makes it even more difficult for them. But we are working closely with them."
Detectives attended the hospital on Wednesday morning to interview Mr He before charging him with murder.
He did not apply for bail when he appeared in Sutherland Local Court on Wednesday afternoon and it was formally refused. The matter will return to court on March 2.
Angus Thompson is an Urban Affairs reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.