The case was labeled as a 'no body, no evidence, no confession' case because Qin Jiayi's body was never found, there were no direct physical evidence linking the suspect to the crime, and the suspect, Chen Wenshen, did not confess to the murder despite being the prime suspect.
The key evidence was the surveillance footage showing Chen Wenshen's suspicious activities around the time of Qin Jiayi's disappearance, including multiple entries and exits from her apartment with large bags, and the fact that Qin Jiayi's phone was found in his possession, which was proven by an automatic recording from his office phone.
Chen Wenshen attempted to cover up the murder by purchasing gloves, plastic wrap, and other tools to dispose of the body. He used a large nylon bag to transport the body from the apartment and disposed of it at a garbage dump between Junk Bay and Sai Kung.
The turning point was during the retrial in 2017, when Chen Wenshen, after years of maintaining his innocence, suddenly confessed to the murder. He admitted that during a heated argument, he had accidentally suffocated Qin Jiayi while trying to silence her.
After his conviction, Chen Wenshen was sentenced to life imprisonment. His personal life also fell apart; his wife divorced him and took their children, and he lost his reputation and career.