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Student Claims 'Wicked Eye' Before Fatal Stabbing
26 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Student claims girlfriend had 'wicked look' before attack.
- He fatally stabbed her after she came at him with a knife.
- He denies murder, citing self-defense in London flat.
Joshua Michals, a 26-year-old American student, is on trial at the Old Bailey for the murder of his girlfriend, Zhe Wang, 31. Michals testified that Wang, a creative writing student, attacked him with a knife in her London flat on March 20 last year, describing her demeanor as 'demented' with a 'wicked look.' He claims he acted in self-defense during the ensuing struggle.
Michals recounted going to Wang's flat to bring normalcy to a tense situation, only to find her distressed. He stated she confronted him with a knife, prompting a physical altercation. During the struggle, the knife caused a cut on Wang's face, and Michals described her as having a 'blood red face' before she stumbled back. He denies intentionally striking her, asserting he only wanted to get away from her.
The trial continues as Michals, who had been studying filmmaking at Goldsmiths University, denies murder. Wang, a Chinese national, was a fellow student at the university. Police found Wang with two stab wounds to her face after Michals called emergency services. The court has heard that Wang wrongly believed she had contracted an STD, a belief Michals stated was incorrect.
