A 24-year-old Punjab-origin man who stabbed his 39-year-old girlfriend to death in London after she ended their relationship has been sentenced to life with a minimum term of 28 years in prison.
The Metropolitan Police arrested Sandhu three days after the December 9 murder while he was on his way to the airport to flee to Mumbai. Officers attended and found the body of Xiaoqing Ke, 39, inside the property with multiple stab wounds. “Upon leaving around 90 minutes later, he started efforts to flee the country to avoid detection.
On December 10, the Met Police were called to an address on Old Brompton Road, Earl’s Court, due to concerns for the welfare of a woman.
The Met Police said its investigation uncovered messages showing Sandhu had grown “increasingly angry” after Xiaoqing attempted to end their relationship, before travelling to London to carry out his fatal attack. Police said further analysis of blood taken from the scene matched Sandhu and he was identified as a main suspect. He falsely claimed to a family member that another man killed Xiaoqing while he was there and also booked a flight to Mumbai,” the Met Police said.Officers located Sandhu and arrested him on December 12 while he was on a coach heading to the airport, the Met said.“Our team uncovered vital evidence showing Sandhu had become fixated on Xiaoqing and had subjected her to a tirade of controlling and abusive messages before ultimately deciding to end her life. Xiaoqing should never have had to endure what happened to her either in the months before her death or in the final moments of her life,” said detective chief inspector (DCI) Wayne Jolley.
The Old Bailey Court found Deepak Sandhu, a resident of Southampton, guilty of murdering Xiaoqing Ke in December 2025 after their brief relationship ended.
A murder investigation was launched and officers gathered evidence, including mobile phones and clothing, to help build a picture of the assault and any relevant background on those who had been in contact with Xiaoqing.
