Man sentenced to 14 years over killing of two women could be eligible for parole in seven years
In short:
A man has been sentenced to 14 years’ jail after killing two women in Melbourne’s CBD in December 2022.
Xiaozheng Lin, 24, who attacked the women after paying them for sex, faces a minimum of nine years in prison. But he could be out as early as late 2031 due to time already served.
What’s next?
Lin will be deported to China upon his release.
A man who killed two women in the space of 24 hours could be released from prison in seven years, with a judge describing his crimes as “callous” and “without justification”.
Xiaozheng Lin struck a deal with prosecutors to plead guilty to manslaughter, meaning his penalty was significantly lower than if he had been sentenced for the crime of murder.
In the Victorian Supreme Court on Thursday, Justice Stephen Kaye jailed Lin for 14 years with a minimum of nine years. But with time already served, he could be released in late 2031.
Lin killed the two sex workers in Melbourne’s CBD in December 2022, attacking the women in their apartments after paying for sex.
Lin, 24, strangled Yuqi Luo to death in her La Trobe Street apartment early on December 27 and stole about $7,000 cash, handbags and her phone.
The killer went to Hyun Sook Jeon’s Docklands apartment later that night. She was found dead days later with her body covered with a blanket and towels wrapped around her head.
Pathologists were unable to determine how Ms Jeon died. Last month, Lin’s lawyers said he admitted to violently shaking the 51-year-old.
Lin stole Ms Jeon’s laptop and bank cards, making transactions to pay phone bills and top up his sports betting account.
Justice Kaye said the victims were in their own homes where they were entitled to feel safe.
The judge called the killings “callous” and said they occurred “without any justification at all”.
“By your violent and criminal actions you have taken the lives of two fellow human beings, Yuqi Luo and Hyun Sook Jeon,” Justice Kaye said.
“They were entirely vulnerable and defenceless.”
Lin entered the court building with his shirt over his head and looked down and cried as the judge’s sentence was relayed to him by an interpreter.
Ms Jeon’s husband watched proceedings from the court gallery.
Justice Kaye said the killings had caused devastation for the women’s loved ones.
Lin was originally charged with two counts of murder, but earlier this year negotiated a deal with prosecutors which enabled him to plead guilty to the lesser offences of manslaughter.
The deal quickly moved the case through the court system, negating the need for a Supreme Court trial and for witnesses to give evidence. It also meant Lin was able to avoid a murder conviction and a heftier jail term.
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Chinese national Xiaozheng Lin jailed for after killing two Melbourne sex workers within 24 hours
A Chinese student was seen sobbing in court as he was slammed for the merciless killing of two sex workers within 24 hours.
November 7, 2024
A Chinese national has cried in court upon learning his fate for his remorseless killing of two sex workers in Melbourne, with a court being told he used one of the deceased women’s bank cards to rack up $17,000 in purchases.
Xiaozheng Lin, 24, returned before the Supreme Court of Victoria on Thursday where he was sentenced to 14 years behind bars after pleading guilty to two counts of manslaughter.
Lin kept his head down and was seen crying as a Mandarin interpreter translated Justice Stephen Kaye’s sentencing remarks.
Lin, then 22, was arrested two days after Yuqi Luo, 31, was found dead in her Melbourne CBD apartment on December 27, 2022.
A day later police discovered the body of Hyun Sook Jeon, 51, in her Docklands unit covered in bedding and with a towel wrapped around her head.
She was killed by Lin overnight on December 27 or 28, 2022.
Lin had initially been charged with two counts of murder, however, these charges were reduced to manslaughter as part of a plea deal agreed to in July.
Justice Kaye told the court Lin had told a friend he planned to rob Ms Luo after recent gambling losses attending her home early on December 27.
The pair had consensual sex, but Lin became angry after Ms Lou denied his request for oral sex unless he paid an additional $100 and attacked her.
After his arrest, he told police he wrapped his arm around her neck and pressed her face into the bed for about a minute.
Justice Kaye said Line told detectives he felt her attitude was “pretty bad” and he was “humiliated” when she fought back.
Lin told police Ms Lou was alive and gasping for air as he stole cash, handbags and her phone before leaving — her cause of death was identified as asphyxia.
Less than 24 hours later he attended Ms Jeon’s home where she died through an “unlawful and dangerous act” by Lin, Justice Kaye said.
The court was told Lin declined to comment when interviewed by police and an autopsy was unable to determine any injuries or pathology that could have caused her death, due to decomposition.
Between 1.25am and 7.25pm on December 28, Lin made 30 transactions using Ms Jeon’s bank cards totalling almost $17,000.
Justice Kaye told the court Lin had not expressed any remorse for the serious violence he perpetuated against the two defenceless women.
“By your violent and criminal actions you have taken the lives of two innocent human beings,” Justice Kaye said.
“You showed them no mercy … instead you callously set about taking from them not only their dignity but also their personal items.”
The court was told Lin had come to Australia on a student visa from China with his family hoping the move would lead to a better life for him.
He found work as a plaster and labourer and was studying English but incurred heavy debts due to his gambling addiction.
Justice Kaye said both Ms Lou and Ms Jeon were much-loved members of their families who now suffered deep grief as a result of their “cruel deaths”.
“I have no doubt the anguish you have caused will always remain with them,” he said.
Lin was sentenced to nine years jail for killing Ms Lou and 10 years for causing the death of Ms Jeon, with a total effective sentence of 14 years.
He will be eligible for parole in December 2031 after serving 9 years.
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Nine-year sentence for killing two migrant sex workers exposes ‘double stigma’, advocates say
Sentencing Lin on Thursday, Justice Stephen Kaye said Lin had killed two vulnerable and defenceless women in their own homes.
An aggravating factor was that he was undeterred from the first assault when he went on to kill Jeon.
“Having assaulted Yuqi Luo in circumstances in which you left her, at least, stricken and gasping for breath … you plainly suffered no pang of conscience,” he said.
Lin was silent and kept his head down as Justice Kaye sentenced him to a maximum of 14 years in prison, with a non-parole period of nine years.
He has been in custody since December 2022.
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2022年圣诞节期间，澳大利亚墨尔本发生了一起震惊社会的杀人案件，一名24岁的中国留学生—林小正，先后杀害了两名女性，并在作案后掠夺其财物。
近日，法院对案件进行了判决，这名中国留学生仅被判14年监禁，其中9年不得假释，刑满后将被遣返回中国。
受害者分别为31岁的中国籍女子罗玉琪（Yuqi Luo，音译）和51岁的韩国籍女子全贤淑，她们均为墨尔本当地的性工作者。
当局表示，林小正于2000年出生于中国海南省，在家庭影响下年幼时便接触赌博，家中欠下赌博巨债，债务被年轻的林小正担了下来。2018年，17岁的林小正以学生签证赴澳，抵达后便在建筑工地打工，为家中偿还赌债。
法官表示，林小正在他人家中杀害了两位脆弱且无力反抗的女性，而且是连杀两人，显示出他毫无悔意。林小正原先被指控谋杀，但最终与检方达成协议，改为较轻的过失杀人罪，最高刑期为25年。
算上已经被关押的两年时间，林小正最早可以在2031年12月申请假释。预计他会在获释后被遣返回中国。
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