Yanfei Bao’s partner describes the day she disappeared

The partner of slain estate agent Yangfei Bao told the High Court that when he returned home and found she had not been home for the day, he realized something unusual had happened.

Chinese national Tingjun Cao, 53, is accused of killing Yanfei Bao on July 19, 2023, the day she disappeared.

He pleaded not guilty.

Bao went missing in July last year and her body was found on farmland near Christchurch just over a year later.

Bao’s partner Paul Gooch was the second witness to testify at trial.

Crown prosecutor Pip Currie asked Gooch when he realized Bao was missing.

Gooch said that when he came home from the gym that evening, a neighbor met him and told him that one of their daughter’s daycare providers was in the house because no one had gone to pick up their daughter.

He was told that a child care worker took their daughter to the central police station after school.

Gooch said he then went inside to check the dishwasher.

According to him, Yanfei usually came home for lunch and left the dishes in the dishwasher.

This time it was clear that she had not put the dishes in the dishwasher.

Gooch became emotional, saying that it was very unusual for her not to come home for dinner.

He was asked about Yanfei leaving the house in the morning, as seen on CCTV footage from the house.

He said she was seen rushing to her car, first without shoes, returning to the house and then back to the car with shoes on and leaving.

With a slight laugh, Gooch said that she was always late.

Gooch said he didn’t know much about her plans for the day, but she mentioned that she hoped to meet with a potential client.

There was also a testy exchange between Gooch and the defendant’s lawyer.

Eason repeated the question and listed Bao as missing.

Gooch angrily replied, “Her mother is not missing, she’s dead.”

Eason then asked Gooch if he intended for the child, who was not his biological daughter, to continue living with him or return to live in China.

Gooch said he wanted her to continue living with him, but he didn’t have a crystal ball.