A Chinese PhD student, Zhenhao Zou, was convicted in London for drugging and raping ten women, with police indicating potential additional victims surpassing fifty. His offenses spanned from 2019 to 2023, during which he filmed some assaults as memorabilia. Police are encouraging other potential victims to come forward following this landmark verdict.
In London, a jury has found 28-year-old Zhenhao Zou, a Chinese PhD student, guilty of drugging and raping ten women in both England and China. This conviction follows a month-long trial at the Inner London Crown Court, during which jurors deliberated for over 19 hours, ultimately concluding that Zou committed his crimes between 2019 and 2023, involving three assaults in London and seven in China.
Zou was convicted on eleven counts of rape, including two instances involving a single victim. Alarmingly, police investigations have identified only two of the victims, suggesting additional victims could exceed 50, positioning Zou as potentially one of the UK’s most notorious sex offenders. Notably, he recorded nine assaults using hidden cameras and retained items from the victims as trophies.
As a mechanical engineering student at University College London, Zou contended that the sexual encounters were consensual. Sentencing is scheduled for June 19. Judge Rosina Cottage characterized him as a “dangerous and predatory sexual offender,” indicating the sentence would be substantial due to the severity of his actions.
Zou’s convictions also include three counts of voyeurism, ten counts of possessing extreme pornographic content, alongside charges of false imprisonment and drug possession intending to commit a sexual offense. Jurors were subjected to distressing footage during the trial, and the evidence presented was formidable, culminating in Zou showing no emotion upon receiving the verdict.
The trial revealed Zou used WeChat and dating apps to connect with potential victims before drugging them. Metropolitan Police Commander Kevin Southworth expressed gratitude to the two women who provided testimony against Zou, describing his actions as both cowardly and deceitful. Furthermore, he remarked that many victims may not have remembered the incidents.
The Metropolitan Police has urged others who might have been victimized by Zou to come forward. Issues arose during the trial regarding the interpreter’s quality provided to the victims, which Southworth acknowledged, stating it was regrettable.
Zou relocated from Belfast, where he studied at Queen’s University, to University College London for his graduate studies in 2019. Dr. Michael Spence, president of UCL, extended his thoughts to the survivors, commending their bravery in reporting the crimes and participating in the trial process.
The conviction of Zhenhao Zou marks a significant moment in addressing sexual offenses, revealing the possibility of more than 50 additional victims. His predatory behavior and the severity of his acts underscore the importance of supporting and empowering survivors. The case serves as a call to action for law enforcement to enhance victim support systems and for those affected to step forward to ensure justice is served.
Original Source: abcnews.go.com
