In a shocking turn of events, 24-year-old Xiaozheng Lin has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of two women in Melbourne, shedding light on a chilling 24-hour crime spree that has left the community reeling. The gruesome details of the case, which had been kept under wraps due to a court-imposed gag order, paint a disturbing picture of a man driven by rage and greed.
The Deadly Encounters
According to court documents, Lin’s deadly rampage began on Boxing Day 2022, when he visited a brothel before enlisting a friend to drive him to the apartment of Yuqi Luo, a 31-year-old Chinese national who operated a sex work business. Lin, who had recently lost money gambling, confessed to his friend that he intended to rob Luo.
After engaging in sexual activity with Luo, Lin became enraged when she refused to perform oral sex without an additional $100 payment. In a fit of anger, he attacked Luo, strangling her and leaving her for dead before stealing $7,000 in cash, her phone, and several designer handbags.
“She was gasping for air and I thought, OK today I had a robbery and I didn’t kill her,” Lin later told police, revealing the chilling callousness of his actions.
Xiaozheng Lin, according to court documents
Less than 24 hours later, Lin struck again. This time, his victim was Hyun Sook Jeon, a 51-year-old South Korean sex worker living in a Docklands apartment. After engaging in sexual activity, Lin fatally assaulted Jeon and stole her laptop, bank cards, phone, and building keys. By the time her body was discovered, decomposition had made it impossible to determine the exact cause of death.
A Father’s Anguish
The impact of these senseless killings has been devastating for the victims’ families. Yuqi Luo’s father, Luo Bo, expressed his immense grief in a statement read to the court:
“It’s extremely difficult to accept the cruel reality my daughter has been murdered. Her death had been a huge blow to my heart.”
Luo Bo, father of victim Yuqi Luo
Avoiding a Murder Trial
Originally scheduled to face a murder trial in August, Lin struck a plea deal just one month before the trial was set to begin. By pleading guilty to two charges of manslaughter, Lin has avoided the possibility of a life sentence that a murder conviction would have carried.
Prosecutor Kristie Churchill emphasized the severity of Lin’s actions, stating:
“He has caused the death of two vulnerable women in their own homes, a place that they were entitled to feel and be safe, within 24 hours of each other. He stole from them, he left them in positions with no regard for their safety and or dignity.”
Kristie Churchill, prosecutor
A Community in Shock
As details of Lin’s crimes have come to light, the Melbourne community has been left in a state of shock and mourning. The brazen nature of the attacks, occurring within the victims’ own homes, has raised concerns about the safety of sex workers and the need for greater protections.
While Lin awaits sentencing, the families of Yuqi Luo and Hyun Sook Jeon are left to grapple with the immense loss and pain caused by his actions. As the community comes together to support one another in the wake of this tragedy, many are left wondering what could have driven a young man to commit such heinous acts and how similar tragedies can be prevented in the future.
The case serves as a grim reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by sex workers and the importance of ensuring their safety and well-being. As the legal proceedings continue, the community holds out hope that justice will be served and that the memory of Yuqi Luo and Hyun Sook Jeon will not be forgotten.
