Newcastle murder latest: Chinese students named

Aug 11 2008 The Journal

Police also revealed details of the victims’ last known movements

XI ZHOU

We now know that XI ZHOU worked an 11am to 3pm shift at the Wagamama’s Restaurant in Newcastle on Thursday 7th August 2008.  She left the restaurant at 3.47pm and we believe she walked to her home address.  This is the last sighting of XI ZHOU.

XI ZHOU should have started work at 12pm on Friday 8th August 2008.  Very unusually she never turned up for work.

ZHEN XING YANG

We have no current sightings of Mr YANG other than a visit from his landlord sometime at the end of July, beginning of August this year.
A female friend of Mr YANG contacted him by mobile at 2.38pm on Wednesday 6th August 2008.  The conversation was brief with no cause for concern being expressed in the telephone conversation.  This is the last known contact to Mr YANG.

Police also revealed their current lines of investigation

Motive

We are attempting to piece together the lifestyle of both victims in an attempt to establish a motive for this brutal attack.  At this time we have no known motive as to why this attack has occurred.

Forensic examination at scene

A painstaking and thorough forensic examination is being conducted inside 8 Croydon Road.  Scenes of Crime Officers, a Crime Scene Manager and Crime Scene Co-ordinators have all been appointed.  Forensic Scientists and a Forensic Pathologist have visited the scene with a view to assisting in the forensic search for evidence.  It is anticipated it will be several days before the scene can be released.

House to House enquiries/searches

House to House enquiries are continuing in the vicinity of the crime scene and the search of the scene is ongoing looking for possible weapons used in the attack.

Family Liaison

You have already been updated as to the current situation concerning next of kin to both victims.  Because of language barriers and the distances involved this is proving challenging to the trained and appointed Family Liaison Officers.

Chinese community contacts

Investigating officers have had meetings with the Chinese community in the West End of Newcastle.  We are particularly interested to identify friends and associates of the deceased and enquiries are ongoing with the universities and XI ZHOU’s place of work.

We are utilising Chinese media outlets, Internet websites, and community contacts to try and build up a lifestyle profile of the victims and identify the last sightings of the couple alive.

The Murder Incident Room can be contacted on:
08456 043043 ext 62832.

Northumbria Police can be contacted on:
08456 043043 or 03456 043043.

Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on:
0800 555111.