She Asked Him to Get Tested for STDs. Then He Killed Her — and Called His Dad for a Lawyer as She Lay Dying

An American man has been convicted of murder in the United Kingdom for killing a woman he was casually dating after she repeatedly asked him to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases.

Joshua Michals, 26, was found guilty of murdering 31-year-old Zhe Wang, his classmate at Goldsmiths, University of London, in March 2024, according to a press release from the Metropolitan Police.

On the day of the killing, Michals phoned authorities to report that a serious incident had occurred but said he was no longer at the address. When officers arrived, they found Wang with two stab wounds to her face and evidence of neck compression, police said.

Michals was arrested the same day. He declined to answer questions about his relationship with Wang, but investigators examined his phone and reviewed messages between the two, which showed their relationship was breaking down, according to police.

In those messages, Wang repeatedly asked Michals to get tested for STDs.

Police said this issue became an increasing source of conflict, and Wang eventually asked Michals to come over and talk in person on March 20. The final message he sent her that evening, at 7:17 p.m., simply read “here,” according to the press release.

During the trial, the BBC reported that after the incident, Michals first called his father and obtained information about a lawyer, then waited nearly four hours before contacting police.

When officers searched his residence, they found clothing stained with blood, authorities said.

At trial, Michals’ defense lawyer argued that he acted in self-defense, claiming Wang attacked him with a knife after becoming angry and mistakenly believing she had contracted an STD from him, the BBC reported. Michals told jurors he had not intended to stab Wang, saying he only wanted to push her away.

Detective Inspector Claire Guiver described the assault as a brutal and savage attack on Wang, who friends said was a quiet, gentle woman enjoying her studies in London. Guiver added that investigators did not accept Michals’ claims that the killing was an accident and said he is a dangerous, violent man who must now face the consequences of his actions.

According to the BBC, Michals was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, and was studying for a master’s degree at Goldsmiths at the time of the killing.

He will be sentenced at a later date.