Tobias Pick pleads guilty to manslaughter after death of Jingai Zhang

A German national has pleaded guilty to manslaughter nearly two years after he strangled a married Tasmanian sex worker to death.

A German national who was travelling Australia on a working visa when he strangled a married sex worker to death in Launceston has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Tobias Pick, 27, had originally pleaded not guilty to a charge of murdering Launceston woman Jingai Zhang, 49, at a Wellington St residence on or about December 26, 2020.

Ms Zhang was discovered about 8.30pm and was unable to be revived despite the attempts of paramedics and bystanders.

As recently as two months ago, the matter still seemed headed for trial, but following conferencing between defence counsel Olivia Jenkins and the Crown, on Monday in Launceston Supreme Court the defendant pleaded guilty to the lesser charge.

According to the indictment, Pick killed the married Ms Zhang by strangulation.

He will be sentenced on December 5.

‘Unable to speak openly’: New hitch in Tasmanian murder trial - August 19

A barrister representing a German backpacker accused of murdering a woman in Launceston on Boxing Day in 2020 has told a court her client was “unable to speak openly” with her due to a miscommunication with his prison unit.

Tasmania Police allege Tobias Pick, 27, who had been travelling on a working visa in the months leading up to the day in question, murdered Jingai Zhang, 49, a permanent Australian resident of Chinese origins, in her Wellington St residence.

Tasmania Police at the scene of Ms Zhang’s death in Wellington Street, Launceston. Picture: Helen Kempton

The Mercury previously reported Ms Zhang was discovered in her bedroom about 8.30pm on Boxing Day following a triple-0 call reporting her death.

A witness, attending police, and paramedics attempted to resuscitate the woman but she was declared dead at the scene.

Mr Pick has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

In Launceston Supreme Court on Friday, Mr Pick’s defence counsel Olivia Jenkins said the scheduled directions hearing was to update the court on discussions between herself and the Crown regarding a possible “resolution” to outstanding issues in the case.

However, Ms Jenkins needed to brief Mr Pick on the outcome of these discussions and this had not happened.

Tasmania Police at the scene of a Ms Zhang’s death in Wellington Street, Launceston. Picture: Helen Kempton

“I had a phone appointment booked this morning but this was not communicated to his unit,” Ms Jenkins told the court.

“They facilitated a phone call half-an-hour ago but it was in the control room where a number of people were present so he was unable to speak openly with me.”

The court granted Ms jenkins’ application to adjourn the matter to September 5.