Indian migrant jailed for 28 years for murdering woman at Airbnb

Deepak Sandhu, an Indian national who had overstayed his visa in the UK, has been jailed for 28 years after being found guilty of murdering Xiaoqing Ke at an Airbnb in London. Sandhu, who claimed to be a model and actor, had his student visa revoked in April 2025 after dropping out of university but remained in the UK, committing the crime nine months later.

Ms. Ke, 39, was discovered with fatal injuries, including a deep stab wound to the neck, in her bedsit on December 10 of last year. The court heard that Sandhu and Ms. Ke, a sex worker, had met in March 2025 while she was working in a brothel in Southampton. They developed a relationship communicated via a translation app. Their relationship soured when Ms. Ke discovered Sandhu had stolen £500 from her and confronted him about his web of lies.

Prosecutor Caroline Carberry KC described Sandhu as a "fantasist" and an "obsessed, manipulative young man" unable to accept Ms. Ke's rejection. Sandhu, who spoke Punjabi, and Ms. Ke, who spoke Mandarin, had maintained contact after she moved to London. Sandhu had fabricated numerous stories, including claiming his sister lived in Southampton when she was in India, and that he was a model and actor who traveled to the U.S. for auditions. He also lied about attending his graduation, despite being removed from his course for poor attendance.

Sandhu admitted to being a "pathological liar" but denied responsibility for Ms. Ke's death, stating he was not capable of killing. He was apprehended on December 12, last year, en route to Birmingham Airport, wearing the same blood-stained jacket seen in CCTV footage from the crime scene. A jury deliberated for two hours before convicting him of murder and perverting the course of justice for attempting to flee the country.

Evidence presented to the court indicated that Ms. Ke was aware of Sandhu's deception and had demanded her money back, telling him, "Don't come see me. I'm clear, I'm not a fool." Sandhu reacted by telling her former brothel boss that she would "regret what she has done." In WhatsApp messages, he questioned an associate about taking revenge. He also pleaded with Ms. Ke for another chance, falsely claiming he had the money and could secure her British citizenship.

Sandhu traveled from Southampton to London on December 9, armed with a knife, and was captured on doorbell camera footage entering and leaving Ms. Ke's Airbnb. After the murder, he contacted his sister in India and booked a flight to Mumbai. He was arrested on a coach to Birmingham Airport.

During the trial, Sandhu admitted to lying about being an actor and taking the £500, citing financial struggles. He claimed he was feeling "desperate" and worried Ms. Ke would demand the money back, but denied seeking revenge. He stated that upon arriving at her flat, he waited in a laundry room while she was with another customer, heard arguing, and later saw blood but did not witness the killing.

Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Jolley stated that their investigation revealed Sandhu had become fixated on Ms. Ke and had sent her controlling and abusive messages before her death. Shikha Varma of the Crown Prosecution Service highlighted that prosecutors were able to present evidence of Sandhu's anger and presence at the scene, leading to his conviction. The sentence aims to provide a measure of justice for Ms. Ke's family.