Niece Mengmei Leng, a promising 25-year-old student from China, was brutally murdered by her uncle, Derek Barrett, in April 2016, a crime that shocked the community and left her family devastated.
Mengmei, known for her bright personality and ambition, had been living with her aunt and Barrett in Campsie, Sydney since she arrived in Australia to pursue her studies.
Mengmei was a dedicated student at the University of Technology in Sydney, working hard to build a future for herself. Her life took a tragic turn when her aunt began spending more time away from home for work, leaving Mengmei alone with Barrett.
During this time, Barrett’s behavior became increasingly disturbing, as he began to exhibit a twisted obsession with Mengmei.On April 22, 2016, Mengmei was last seen alive.
Security footage captured her shopping in Sydney before she returned home. However, the following days would reveal a horrifying fate. After her aunt returned from a business trip, she discovered that Mengmei had not been seen for two days.
Concerned, they reported her missing to the police, but tragically, Mengmei’s body had already been found floating in a blowhole on the Central Coast.
Mengmei’s body was discovered by tourists, and the investigation quickly turned towards her uncle. Detective Chief Inspector Gary Jubelin and his team found inconsistencies in Barrett’s statements, prompting further scrutiny.
Evidence, including cell phone records and surveillance footage, placed Barrett near the location where Mengmei’s body was found, contradicting his claims of innocence.As investigators delved deeper, they uncovered a disturbing pattern of behavior.
Barrett had secretly recorded Mengmei and other women in compromising situations, violating their trust. The evidence against him mounted, revealing a dark obsession that culminated in a horrific act of violence.
The Murder
On the night of her murder, Mengmei was bound, gagged, and subjected to unimaginable terror. Barrett brutally stabbed her more than 30 times, leaving her lifeless body discarded as if she were nothing. The Forensic revealed defensive wounds on Mengmei’s arms, indicating a desperate struggle for survival against her attacker.
Barrett’s actions were described as depraved and sadistic, stemming from a perverted sexual obsession. During the trial, he claimed to have no memory of the events due to drug use, but this defense was dismissed by the court.
Justice Helen Wilson condemned his actions, highlighting the extreme violence and humiliation Mengmei endured.
In December 2017, Derek Barrett pleaded guilty to Mengmei’s murder and was sentenced to 46 years in prison. The judge acknowledged the severity of the crime, stating that Mengmei had been subjected to conduct that terrified and degraded her.
Despite the lengthy sentence, Mengmei’s family expressed their grief, stating that no punishment could ever bring their daughter back.Mengmei’s mother, Mei Zhang, delivered a heart-wrenching statement in court, emphasizing the profound loss of her only child.
The murder had torn their family apart, and the guilt felt by Mengmei’s aunt was unbearable. The community, once hopeful for Mengmei’s safe return, now mourned the loss of a bright young woman whose life was cut tragically short.
