Yanfei Bao Murder Trial: Defendant Waives Right to Appear in Court

Tingjun Cao in the Christchurch High Court on 21 October 2024.
Photo: Ian McGregor

The man accused of murdering Christchurch real estate agent Yanfei Bao has said he does not want to attend his High Court trial.

Chinese national Tingjun Cao, 53, is accused of killing Bao on July 19, 2023, the day she disappeared.

He pleaded not guilty.

Bao, 44, was last seen heading to the suburb of Hornby to show a house to a potential client.

Her body was found on a farm near Christchurch just over a year later.

The third day of Cao’s trial did not begin Wednesday morning, and Judge Lisa Preston dismissed the jury for the rest of the day.

Judge Preston told the jury she was satisfied Cao did not wish to attend trial at this time.

“Mr Cao has the right to be present at trial, however he can waive that right and you will notice this morning that he is not in the courtroom,” she said.

Judge Lisa Preston October 23, 2024
Photo: George Hurd

Judge Preston told the jury that the law allows the trial to proceed in Cao’s absence, but if that were to happen, some logistical measures would need to be put in place to ensure a fair trial could continue.

“It is important that you understand that no negative inferences should be drawn from his absence from the courtroom. His absence, of course, is not an admission of guilt and in no way advances the prosecution’s case,” she said.

Cao’s trial is scheduled for six weeks.

The Crown’s case is that Cao stabbed Bao several times at a house in Hornby, dragged her body through the house and placed her in the boot of his car.

Crown prosecutor Cameron Stewart said a photograph obtained from Cao’s phone showed an image of what the Crown said was Bao’s dead body, showing her topless and blood on her body.

Stewart said the Crown does not have to prove motive, but the photograph may indicate a sexual element to the offender.

Tsao’s lawyer Joshua MacLeod said the Crown’s evidence was insufficient to prove the murder charge.

He said the Crown’s evidence was much murkier than they wanted to present.

“This lack of clarity can only lead to dilution of their case. You will need to look at the police investigation as a whole.

“How they approached this case, how it developed and when. Who did they look at and why, and how wide a net did they cast? What evidence can you really rely on?”

Bao’s partner Paul Gooch spoke at the trial yesterday.

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