The trial of Tingjun Cao, accused of murdering Christchurch real estate agent Yanfei Bao, is set to begin, potentially revealing the motive for her tragic death. Bao, a Chinese national, disappeared on July 19, 2023, causing widespread concern throughout New Zealand.

She was last seen in the suburb of Hornby, going to meet a client at a house on Trevor Street. Shortly after her disappearance, police charged Tingjun Cao, 53, with kidnapping and then murder, although Bao’s body was never found. More than a year later, in August 2024, police discovered her remains in a shallow grave in rural Greenpark, south of Christchurch.

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Cao, who does not speak English and will have interpreters throughout the trial, denies the charges. The case will be heard by Judge Lisa Preston and 12 jurors in a trial expected to last six weeks. The Crown, led by veteran prosecutors Pip Currie and Cameron Stewart, will call witnesses from New Zealand and China, including Bao’s family, police officers and forensic experts.

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The main unanswered question is why Bao was killed. Police have yet to reveal a motive, which is expected to be revealed in the Crown’s opening statements. Bao’s last known message was a WeChat call to a friend inquiring about transferring $600,000 from China to buy a house in Christchurch.

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Police used a number of technological tools, including cellphone data interrogation and triangulation, to locate Bao’s body. The significant breakthrough came from information received six to eight weeks before its discovery.

As the trial progresses, the public will finally learn more about the circumstances of Bao’s death and whether justice will be brought to the Christchurch community.

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