Jude Luckshan Wijesinghe, 31, has pleaded guilty to his charge of murder. Photo: Facebook.
CONTENT WARNING: This article contains distressing content and refers to self-harm.
The chef accused of stabbing a co-worker to death at Canberra’s zoo has pleaded guilty, and new court documents have revealed details about the tragic incident.
Jude Luckshan Wijesinghe, now aged 31, originally fought the accusations against him and was set to contest his charge at a trial next month.
But on Monday (28 July), he faced the ACT Supreme Court and pleaded guilty to murdering 29-year-old Tshewang Choden at the National Zoo & Aquarium on 18 December 2023.
They both worked as chefs in the kitchen at the zoo’s Jamala Wildlife Lodge for over a year before he killed her, an agreed statement of facts says.
They didn’t talk much at work, but in June 2023, Wijesinghe texted Ms Choden to say she had the “prettiest name in the world” and asked her out to dinner, which she declined.
She told another colleague she thought he was interested in her, but had told him she was in a relationship. Their colleagues would later report that he had been jealous when other men interacted with her.
Around midday on the day of the murder, he went to the lodge before texting several friends to say goodbye. Shortly afterwards, another colleague left Ms Choden alone in the kitchen.
Just a few minutes later, some men working at a nearby construction site heard a woman screaming frantically and they ran towards the sound.
They arrived to hear screaming and banging coming from a dry storeroom outside the kitchen and tried to get inside, but the door was locked.
The workers ran to find help, and when they returned, they found that while the screaming had stopped, the door was open.
Wijesinghe was seen standing inside the storeroom, with blood on his hands as well as the boning knife he held.
The men fled, but the alarm was raised and a number of staff arrived at the scene. One of the staff members took the knife away from Wijesinghe after he left the storeroom and committed an act of self-harm.
Staff discovered Ms Choden in the storeroom. She was dead, having been stabbed 14 times, including four times to the head and neck and once in the heart.
Wijesinghe was taken to hospital to be treated for his injuries. When a psychiatrist asked him what happened, he said, “I just snapped”.
Police raided his home and found four handwritten notes on the kitchen counter, which started with, “It was never meant to end this way”.
“I apologise for all this chaos I’ve created,” the notes read.
“You all will label me as the one in the wrong. Fair enough.
“I was pushed to a dark place and now it’s not me anymore.”
One of the letters was addressed to his parents, in which he wrote how he loved them more than anything in the world, “but these people f-d my head”.
“Society is going to say all sorts of things about me. But you know who I am and never forget that,” he wrote to them.
He has remained in custody since his arrest on the day of the murder.
Ms Choden, who was from Bhutan, was known as ‘Choden’ when she was at work.
After the guilty plea was entered, the owners and management of Jamala Wildlife Lodge and the National Zoo and Aquarium released a statement to Region.
“We are holding everyone affected in our thoughts during this incredibly difficult time,” they said.
“Our hearts are especially with the family, community and loved ones of Choden; we extend our deepest sympathies to them.
“As we move forward, our primary focus is to provide every possible support to Choden’s family and community and to the staff that were affected.”
On Monday (28 July), Chief Justice Lucy McCallum said sentencing would begin on 17 October.
Wijesinghe had been committed to the higher court for trial in 2024.
A fundraiser launched by Canberra’s Bhutanese community to support Ms Choden’s family raised over $26,000 before it finished last year.
If you or someone you know needs help, you can contact:
Lifeline’s 24-hour crisis support line – 13 11 14
Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467
Kids Helpline – 1800 551 800 or kidshelpline.com.au
MensLine Australia – 1300 789 978 or mensline.org.au.
What are the lies Julie? *reaches for popcorn* View