Three years ago, 55-year-old Chinese man Qiuming Wan, who sexually assaulted and killed his girlfriend, was sentenced to 25 years to life imprisonment by the Queens District Higher Court on December 3.
Prosecutor Melinda Katz of Queens District announced that Wan Qiuming had murdered and sexually assaulted 29-year-old Meijiao Zhou in November 2021. He attempted to remove Zhou’s body from the apartment, but was intercepted by residents of the building. Following a trial in October this year, the jury found the defendant guilty.
Katz stated, “A dangerous individual has been sentenced to prison for the brutal murder of Meijiao Zhou. Wan Qiuming tried to evade justice by concealing evidence and moving Meijiao Zhou’s body from the apartment, but fortunately, the police arrived in time to arrest him. I hope this verdict can offer some comfort to the victim’s family, as they continue to mourn her loss.”
Wan Qiuming was found guilty by the jury in October of second-degree murder, first-degree aggravated sexual abuse, first-degree sexual abuse, tampering with physical evidence, and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Judge Michael Aloise of the Queens District Higher Court sentenced him to 25 years to life imprisonment on December 3.
According to the charges and testimony during the trial, on the night of November 1, 2021, around 11:30 pm, police received a report that Wan Qiuming had carried the victim Meijiao Zhou from her apartment to the lobby of a building at 55-26 Main Street in Flushing, where he was stopped by residents. Police arrived shortly after and found 29-year-old Meijiao Zhou unconscious with blood on her pants, leading to her eventual death.
A search of Wan’s residence revealed bloodstains on the apartment door frame, bedroom walls and floor, as well as on furniture and bedding. Investigators found two blood-stained cloths in Wan’s bathroom and a laundry bag hidden in his closet containing items soaked in blood, including towels and a women’s tank top. The defendant’s feet and underwear also had bloodstains. The autopsy revealed that Zhou died from penetrating blunt force injuries to the perineum and pelvis. The fatal injuries were caused by a blunt object repeatedly inserted into her pelvis, resulting in extensive internal injuries.