‘She had the whole world in front of her’
ASTUDENT who was murdered by her boyfriend in Cardiff was due to take over her father’s multimillion pound company, a court heard yesterday.
Xixi Bi, who was studying international business management at Cardiff Metropolitan University, was beaten to death by her partner Jordan Matthews on August 19 last year.
In a victim impact statement read out at Cardiff Crown Court, her brother Zexun Bi said: “My sister had a very, very bright future.”
Matthews, 24, admitted manslaughter, but denied murdering his girlfriend at their flat on Ely Road in Llandaff.
On Friday, he was found guilty by a jury, following a twoweek trial, in which they heard evidence from witnesses including the couple’s neighbours and the victim’s friends.
In his statement, read to the court during Matthews’ sentencing hearing yesterday, Mr Bi said: “Xixi was needlessly and selfishly killed by Jordan Matthews.”
He described his sister as kind, friendly, approachable and trusting.
Mr Bi said his family were devastated they would never see her finish her studies, get married and take over the “multi-million pound” family business in China.
He added: “She was intelligent and had the whole world in front of her.”
The victim’s brother said their father had suffered from “severe” depression since her death.
He said: “I have lost a sister and my best friend.
“My mother and myself are sad every day. The heart has been ripped out of our family.”
The judge must impose a life sentence and prosecutors submitted the appropriate minimum term is 15 years.
Mr Bi said: “No sentence imposed will ever reflect the heartache and pain he has inflicted upon my family.”
He described the killing as a “violent and selfish act”.
The victim’s brother added: “We, as a family, will never come to terms with our loss. Xixi will always be in our hearts, no matter how broken they are.”
Prosecutor Paul Lewis QC said aggravating factors included the fact the victim was killed in her own home.
He also argued she was vulnerable due to her size – 5ft 1in – and the assault was not a one-off.
Defence barrister Christopher Henley QC accepted his client had become “obsessive” and “paranoid” throughout the relationship.
He said: “I have to accept that Jordan Matthews was able to physically dominate Xixi Bi.”
But he argued remorse had been shown and also that while there were “unpleasant” text messages sent by his client, he had also sent “tender and loving” messages.
He added: “There wasn’t callous leaving of the body.
“Real attempts were made to save her life. That gives reason to believe his remorse was authentic.”
He said Matthews would be “reaching middle age” by the time he could think about being released.
Mr Henley said: “This is a psychologically damaged young man. He is sincerely sorry for what he did.
“He knows any expression of remorse will be entirely inadequate.”
Mrs Justice Nicola Davies will sentence Matthews for murder today.