Man Charged With Body In Box Murder

The former flatmate of the missing Chinese national Qiong Yan will be extradited to Queensland Thursday from Sydney.

Yang Zhao has been charged with Ms Yan's murder following the grisly discovery of her remains at the accused's rented apartment in Brisbane on Monday. 

Police raided the apartment at Newport Hamilton Apartments on Parkside Circuit in Hamilton on Monday night where Ms Yan's body was found inside a metal box on the balcony. 

Detective Inspector Tim Trezise said the body was badly decomposed, wrapped in cloth with one foot visible. Trezise said it was likely her remains were on the balcony for at least a week.

Ms Yan was reported missing in April when her mother lost contact with her. 

Ms Qiong Yan, pictured above. Source: Police Media

The post-mortem report confirmed the body was of a female, Asian ethnicity, but a legal confirmation of identity might take days or weeks. 

Ms Yan's family identified a distinctive piece of jewellery belonging to the missing woman that was found on the body.

Queensland Police contacted Australian Federal Police to request assistance from Interpol in obtaining a DNA profile from Ms Yan’s family, which will help local police formally identify the body. 

It’s understood the woman may have been seen alive two months ago at the Brisbane apartment where she had been living.

Ms Yan’s former flatmate 26-year-old Yang Zhao was arrested at his residence in Mascot, New South Wales at the same time as the apartment’s police raid. 

Ms Yan previously stayed with the accused and the two were friends. 

Mr Zhao appeared via video link in Sutherland Local Court in New South Wales Wednesday afternoon where Queensland Police’s application to extradite him was approved. 

Whilst Mr Zhao was living in New South Wales, he had been paying rent for the Brisbane apartment. 

He will appear at Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday. 

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