Deepak Sandhu Sentenced to Life for Murder of Xiaoqing Ke
Deepak Sandhu receives a life sentence for the murder of Chinese national Xiaoqing Ke, whom he met in a Southampton brothel.
Deepak Sandhu, 24, sentenced to life with a minimum of 28 years.
Xiaoqing Ke, 39, was murdered after a brief relationship marred by deception.
Sandhu attempted to flee to India before being arrested.
In a significant ruling, Deepak Sandhu, a 24-year-old Indian national, was sentenced to life imprisonment on Friday for the murder of Xiaoqing Ke, a 39-year-old Chinese woman. The Old Bailey jury took only two hours to convict Sandhu, who met Ke while she was working at a brothel in Southampton. Alongside the murder charge, he was also found guilty of perverting the course of justice, despite his denials in court.
The court proceedings revealed that Sandhu had fabricated an identity as a model and actor during a brief relationship with Ke, a single mother of two. Their communication relied heavily on the Google Translate app, highlighting the language barrier between them. Sandhu entered the UK on a student visa in September 2024 but was later expelled from his IT course due to poor attendance, which led to the revocation of his visa six months later.
The relationship took a dark turn when Ke discovered Sandhu had stolen £500 from her handbag, prompting her to end their connection in August 2025. However, Sandhu continued to harass her, attempting to persuade her to meet again under the pretense of repaying the stolen money. The court heard that his true motive was revenge.
Surveillance footage from Ke's Airbnb showed Sandhu arriving with his face covered and leaving after approximately 90 minutes. The following day, police found Ke's body, which had suffered fatal stab wounds. A post-mortem examination confirmed the cause of death. Sandhu attempted to flee the UK by booking a one-way flight to Mumbai but was apprehended by police while traveling on a coach to Birmingham Airport on December 12.
This case has raised concerns about safety and the treatment of vulnerable individuals in the sex industry. The implications of this verdict extend beyond the courtroom, highlighting the need for better support systems for individuals in similar situations. As the legal process concludes, discussions surrounding the broader societal issues related to such crimes are expected to continue.
