Gooch, who gave evidence during the trial, addressed media outside court.
“Coming to terms with this devastating loss has been an incredibly challenging journey, especially considering the complete lack of remorse displayed by the individual responsible,” Gooch said.
Paul Gooch and Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves outside court following the guilty verdict over the murder of Yanfei Bao. Photo / George Heard
“His actions throughout this trial have highlighted a profound absence of humanity.”
Gooch said he felt “relieved” at the decision and that the circumstances surrounding his wife’s death had been a “heavy burden”.
He extended his “heartfelt thanks” to the jury.
“Our gratitude extends to so many individuals and organisations,” Gooch said.
He thanked the New Zealand Police for “bringing this murderer to justice”.
Grieving partnre Paul Gooch and investigation head Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves following the guilty verdict over the murder of Yanfei Bao. Photo / George Heard
Gooch thanked his stepdaughter’s school for helping her navigate the “incredibly traumatic” experience.
He thanked all of Canterbury and New Zealanders who stood by the family during the “painful time”.
“God bless you all.”
Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves said police acknowledged the murder conviction in relation to Bao’s death.
”Since July 2023, police have been dedicated to seeking a resolution for Yanfei Bao’s family and loved ones."
Reeves acknowledged the strength of Bao’s family, who endured a “terribly distressing experience”.
The Crown case was that Cao, who had moved to New Zealand five months earlier, spoke no English and had been helped by Bao in his effort to find a job, lured her to a house in the suburb of Hornby and stabbed her multiple times.
Cao then dragged her into the boot of his car before dumping her in a shallow grave on a farm outside the city.
It would take police more than a year to find her body after a breakthrough cracking into phone data.
Cao had denied having anything to do with Bao’s death. He sacked his lawyers early in the high-profile trial and conducted his own defence, with the assistance of Chinese Mandarin language translators.
Tingjun Cao during the High Court at Christchurch trial. Photo / George Heard
He made various claims about fabricated or false evidence against him and would end up claiming witnesses had mistaken him on the morning Bao disappeared for a “Mr Tang” who he said borrowed his car. No Mr Tang was ever identified.
Mum-of-one Bao was last seen alive on July 19 last year, when she arrived at a house on Trevor St in the suburb of Hornby, set to show a potential buyer through.
Police finally found Yanfei Bao's body on a piece of farmland outside Christchurch. Photo / Joe Allison
The Crown told the jury that while they did not have to prove motive, a graphic photograph allegedly of Bao bloodied and naked from the waist down was found on Cao’s phone and may have suggested a “sexual element” behind Cao’s actions.
Crown prosecutor Pip Currie told the jury in her closing address that the weight of compelling evidence against Cao meant it was an “absolute slam dunk” of a case.
Cao moved to New Zealand from China in March last year, the court heard, leaving behind a wife and two sons.
When he arrived in Christchurch, he lived with his brother-in-law and later helped them buy a new house with a $10,000 cash deposit. Bao was the agent for Harcourts, which she had joined earlier last year.
She stayed in touch with Cao — who couldn’t read, write, or speak English — through a Chinese messaging app.
He had struggled for work and she was helping him find a new job after an initial opportunity did not work out.
Yanfei Bao. Photo / Supplied
On the morning of July 19 last year, he sent her a message asking if she had any houses on the market as a friend in China wanted to buy a property, the Crown alleged.
She replied she had several for sale around the city and asked what the buyer’s needs were, the court heard.
Cao allegedly replied his friend wanted a three-bedroom house up to $650,000 in a good location.
They arranged to meet at the Trevor St property, the court heard.
Closed-circuit television footage was played to the jury, which the Crown said showed both of the pair turning up at the house.
Bao arrived before Cao, took photos and videos of the house and phoned a friend in China to ask about transferring money from China to New Zealand as she had a client interested in buying a house.
The Crown case was that Cao attacked her inside the house by stabbing her, before dragging her through the house and putting her in the boot of his car.
It was alleged he drove her across the city, bought a spade, and then dumped her in a shallow grave on a farm south of the city.
Cao was later arrested at Christchurch International Airport with a passport and a one-way ticket to Shanghai.
