Man accused of murdering housemate, putting body in toolbox, told police she asked him to kill her, court hearsBy Stephen ClarkeTopic:Courts2h ago2 hours agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 6:13amQiong Yan's body was found inside a toolbox, months after she was reported missing in 2021. (Supplied: Queensland Police Service)abc.net.au/news/qld-toolbox-court-trial-yang-zhao-qiong-yan-police-interview/105227182Link copiedShareShare articleThe man accused of murdering a woman, and keeping her body in a toolbox at his Brisbane apartment for almost a year, told police he was "tired of pretending" to be her, a Supreme Court trial has heard.Warning: This story contains content that readers may find distressing.Police allege 30-year-old Chinese national Yang Zhao murdered Qiong Yan in the Hamilton apartment they shared in 2020.The 29-year-old was reported missing by friends and family in April 2021, and her badly decomposed body was found in a large toolbox on an apartment verandah in July that year.The trial is being heard at the Supreme Court in Brisbane, after the accused pleaded not guilty to murder. (ABC News: Neryssa Azlan)Mr Zhao has pleaded not guilty to Ms Yan's murder, but guilty to interfering with a human body.The trial heard Mr Zhao allegedly assumed Ms Yan's identity after her death, sending more than 2,000 messages through social media messaging app WeChat to her mother back in Shanghai.Prosecutors allege Mr Zhao convinced Qiong Yan's mother, Rongmei Yan, to send more than $400,000AUD to a shared bank account in the months after her death.Ms Yan's mother, 67-year-old Rongmei Yan, gave evidence in court on Tuesday. (ABC News)On Wednesday the court was shown a video of the first formal interview NSW Police conducted with Mr Zhao following his July 2021 arrest in Sydney, minutes after Qiong Yan's body was discovered by detectives in Queensland.In the interview, Mr Zhao alleged Ms Yan had asked him to kill her and assume her identity."She asked me to say hello, say good morning to her mother every day … so her mother knows she is well," he was heard saying in the video.He also told police in that video that Ms Yan gave him all her login details, so Mr Zhao could reclaim roughly $300,000 he alleged she owed him."She gave me her password, every password that she's been using, including the phone password and the stock software," Mr Zhao said.Asked why he suddenly stopped messaging Rongmei Yan in March 2021, the court heard Mr Zhao told police he was "tired of pretending".The prosecution alleged Mr Zhao had gained access to Ms Yan's phone and used the social media app WeChat to message her mother. (Reuters: Dado Ruvic)He said after that he "didn't dare" to check Ms Yan's phone again to see what messages she had received.Accused recounts fatal incidentWhen police asked about the events that occurred on the night of Ms Yan's alleged murder, Mr Zhao said the pair had been using nitrous oxide canisters to get high and had consumed about "two boxes" worth.Mr Zhao said they regularly did this and had previously talked about wanting to die, the court heard."She's trying to convince me not to kill myself because she thinks I still have a future," he told police in the video played to the court.Mr Zhao described hitting Ms Yan with the gas canister they had been using to consume the nitrous oxide "bulbs"."She asked me to do it as fast and quick as I can, to smash on her head," he was heard saying. "But I wasn't strong enough. She struggled and asked me to choke her, she said 'Why don't you choke me'."Mr Zhao said he didn't "feel comfortable" describing the injuries Ms Yan received to her head during the alleged attack.The Hamilton unit block where Ms Yan's body was found inside a toolbox. (ABC News: Michael Rennie)"Are you going to show this to her parents?" he asked in the police interview."It was the longest time of my life. The last time I [saw] the clock it was four or five o'clock in the morning."Mr Zhao told police he initially thought about burning Ms Yan's body after her death but instead went out the next day and bought the toolbox she was later found in, the court heard."I just bought a large container to put her in and covered her with a blanket so she's not too cold," he was heard saying in the video.Mr Zhao said he never went back on the balcony after that."Sometime I feel guilty, but sometime I feel I'm doing the right thing," he said.When asked why he didn't try to get rid of Ms Yan's body, Mr Zhao told police he "didn't know how to treat a body" and didn't want to be "disrespectful"."She's too good," he said.The trial continues.Posted 2h ago2 hours agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 6:13amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesNationals senator 'can't comment' on whether One Nation is IslamophobicLIVEIs the Voice back? Peter Dutton wants you to believe it isSAnalysis by Stephanie DalzellPhoto shows Peter Dutton smiles, standing among a group of people in a darkened room. Above them are strings of lights.Kooyong corflute kerfuffle headed for court as Liberals cry foul at councilTopic:Federal GovernmentPhoto shows Monique Ryan Amelia Hamer pre-poll signsSecretive church sect followers told to deny beliefs on voting, in campaign backing CoalitionTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows A composite image of two people with blurred faces wearing blue Liberal Party t-shirts.Trump dismisses 'fake' approval rating as Americans voice tariff fearsTopic:World PoliticsPhoto shows Donald Trump smiles as a crowd holds supportive signs behind him.Related storiesMum was allegedly tricked into sending money to man charged with daughter's murderTopic:CourtsPhoto shows Sign for Brisbane Courts precinct - Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law, including Magistrates, District and Supreme courts.Related topicsBrisbaneCourtsCrimeHamiltonHomicideTop StoriesNationals senator 'can't comment' on whether One Nation is IslamophobicTopic:Australian Federal ElectionsIs the Voice back? Peter Dutton wants you to believe it isSAnalysis by Stephanie DalzellKooyong corflute kerfuffle headed for court as Liberals cry foul at councilTopic:Federal GovernmentSecretive church sect followers told to deny beliefs on voting, in campaign backing CoalitionTopic:ElectionsTrump dismisses 'fake' approval rating as Americans voice tariff fearsTopic:World PoliticsJust InClose calls, an angry professor and bumping Archie the Bat: Antony Green's top momentsTopic:Elections10m ago10 minutes agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 8:07am'Dog whistling' and 'broken promises': Groundhog Day for Indigenous policyAnalysis by Carly Williams14m ago14 minutes agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 8:03amLeaked draft of $45m federal aid plan for sheep farmers 'a shemozzle'Topic:Sheep Farming12m ago12 minutes agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 8:04amQueensland Fire Department to face legal action after fatal factory fireTopic:Fires12m ago12 minutes agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 8:05amMore Just InBack to top