An international student allegedly murdered a flatmate found in a “body box” and impersonated her to steal more than $700,000, a jury has heard.

Yang Zhao today pleaded not guilty to the murder of Qiong Yan, 29, in September 2020 at their apartment in the inner-Brisbane suburb of Hamilton.

He admitted to tampering with Yan’s body, which was discovered hidden in a toolbox on the balcony of their riverside apartment nearly 10 months following her supposed murder.

Cook said Zhao took control of Yan’s phone, placing black tape over its cameras.

Zhao then sent 2000 messages to Yan’s mother in China and her friend in Sydney over the next few months, the jury heard.

Cook revealed that Zhao was fond of living extravagantly, and before the alleged murder, he had unsuccessfully gambled on the stock market and poker, at times losing up to $100,000.

“(Zhao) needed money. He lost money. He killed (Ms Yan). He posed as her for a while. He took her money,” Cook said.

The jury was informed that Yan’s mother had transferred a total of $411,000, and cash withdrawals amounting to $200,000 were made from Yan’s bank accounts after her death.

Cook said Zhao transferred Yan’s $300,000 Porsche Panamera SUV to his own name and later sold it, along with her MacBook computer.

“Zhao never had a job, he never lodged a tax return. He was in arrears for rent,” Cook said.

Zhao, aged 26 at the time of the alleged murder, was a Chinese national living in Australia on a student visa.

Yan was also a Chinese national living on a bridging visa and was a migration agency director.

Yan’s friend in Sydney filed a missing persons report to NSW Police after months of receiving strange messages.

“Once Ms Yan was reported missing – the Crown alleges there was extensive self-preservation by Mr Zhao, driven by selfishness and cowardice,” Cook said.

Cook told jurors they would hear Zhao lied to police in two states and led them on a wild goose chase before Yan’s body was found.