Man pleads guilty to manslaughter of girl, 16, in Chinese takeaway

A man on trial for the murder of a 16-year-old schoolgirl and attempted murder of her stepfather at a Chinese takeaway told police he wanted "revenge on her mother", a court has heard.

Chun Xu, 32, is accused of murdering Wenjing Lin - also known as Wenjing Xu - at the Blue Sky takeaway in the village of Ynyswen, Rhondda Cynon Taf, on 5 March.

Wenjing lived at the takeaway in Baglan Street with her mother, Meifang Xu, and stepfather, Yongquan Jiang.

At a hearing in Merthyr Crown Court on Monday, a jury of six men and five women heard how Xu was a heavy gambler and owed the family £14,000.

Michael Jones QC, prosecuting, told the court Xu visited the family armed with a kitchen knife, and an hour before the attacks had Googled "can fingerprints be destroyed by fire".

When he was later questioned by a psychologist about his fitness to be questioned by police, he said: "I didn't mean to hurt the little girl. I wanted revenge on her mother.

"She upset me on many times and didn't listen to what I say."

Xu was regarded as a nephew to the mother, Ms Xu, as their parents had lived next door to each other in China, but they were not blood relations, Mr Jones said.

In December 2020, the family entrusted Xu with £20,000 that he said he would send back to China for them to pay a friend who had loaned them money to start their business in the UK.

However, Xu only sent some of the money back and gambled away £14,000, which he had then begun paying back.

On 5 March, 2021, he rang Ms Xu and asked if he could come to see them, but told her not to tell anyone about his visit.

That night they ate food together and went to bed.

The next morning, Mr Jones said, he "strangled to death 16-year-old Wenjing".

An hour before the attack he is said to have Googled different variations of whether "fingerprints on knife will still exist if burnt by fire".

After killing Wenjing, Xu is said to have lured her stepfather, Mr Jiang, into the basement by asking whether he could have a piece of fish from the freezer.

In the basement, Xu began attacking Mr Jiang with two knives, stabbing him in the neck and body.

When Mr Jiang asked Xu why he was attacking him, Xu replied: "Money, money, money."

Ms Xu then came down the basement stairs and saw the two fighting. She tried to ring a friend, and Xu bit her.

Mr Jiang fought Xu off and went upstairs to find his stepdaughter, Wenjing. He discovered her lying on her back by the takeaway counter.

Despite attempts by the family and then paramedics to resuscitate the teenager, she was pronounced dead at the scene at 12.59pm.

Police found Xu in the kitchen, having cut his own throat. He was treated at University Hospital of Wales before being arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.

Mr Jones described how £900 was found in Xu's pockets, as well as Wenjing's mobile phone and keys.

He said: "The defendant therefore had taken from Wenjing in death her purse, keys and mobile phone."

Mr Jiang was also taken to hospital with "significant and multiple injuries".

The defendant denies the charges against him, but admitted to the manslaughter of Wenjing and unlawfully wounding Mr Jiang.

He will be accompanied by an interpreter throughout the two-week trial.

A jury of six men and five women were sworn in by His Honour Judge PH Thomas QC at Merthyr Crown Court.

Xu stood in the dock wearing grey tracksuit bottoms and a jumper and spoke only to confirm his name and give his pleas.

Ms Xu, who is in court to watch the trial, also has an interpreter.

The trial continues.