A graduate student facing accusations of sexually assaulting 10 women by using alcohol and drugs has denied procuring a substance from China with the intent of perpetrating sexual assaults on women. Zhenhao Zou, who refutes all allegations, commenced presenting his testimony at Inner London Crown Court on Monday. When questioned about his online acquisition of two bottles of Butanediol discovered in his wardrobe by the authorities, Mr. Zou stated that he planned to use the drug in nightclubs to induce a sense of intoxication. He clarified that he poured it into beverages and consumed it himself to enhance his enjoyment at social gatherings.
Regarding whether he planned to utilize the substance for carrying out sexual assaults on women, he firmly answered, “No.” The 27-year-old stands accused of drugging and raping three women in London and seven in China within the period of 2019 to 2023, charges which he denies. During his testimony on Monday, Mr. Zou revealed that he had come into contact with substances such as cocaine and ketamine through social gatherings and nightclub visits while pursuing his Ph.D. studies at University College London (UCL).
In a statement provided to the police in January 2024 subsequent to his arrest, which was read out to the jurors, Mr. Zou stated, “The two bottles in my possession were purchased in July 2023, and the substance is Butanediol, which I use for moisturizing my face and body. The bottles remain sealed as I had yet to use the product as my moisturizer.” Earlier in court proceedings, he admitted to procuring the drug from the online retailer Taobao in China and having it shipped to him in the UK. When asked by his defense counsel if his claim of using Butanediol as a moisturizer was true, he responded negatively.
Mr. Zou admitted that he refrained from informing the police about his consumption of the drug because he wished to avoid being labeled as a drug user. In his January 2024 statement to the police, he further stated, “I have a practice of taking photographs of my intimate activities with my partners. These photos are only taken with her explicit consent and approval.” In response to the accusation of rape, he denied engaging in sexual intercourse with a partner without her consent, asserting that he always believed consent was granted.
Earlier in the trial, Mr. Zou disclosed to the court that his preferred pornography involved depictions of sleeping women. When questioned by his lawyer, Mark Cotter KC, as to why this genre appealed to him, Mr. Zou explained, “I find it appealing because the women appear serene and subdued during sexual encounters.” Mr. Cotter then inquired, “Even when asleep?” to which the student replied, “Yes, that is my preferred kind. However, I could not locate such content.”
The jury has been presented with videos by
