Cat clues may trap Chinese student murderers

Aug 13 2008 by Paul James, The Journal

A DEAD cat found at the home of a murdered Chinese couple could hold the key to finding their killers, police said last night.

The animal was found in a bowl full of water and covered in towels and kitchen gloves in the bathroom. Detectives are now trying to establish if it was killed as part of a ritual while Zhen Yang was being tortured.

Forensic tests are being carried out on the cat to see if its killer left behind any DNA.

It also emerged yesterday that Mr Yang, 25, suffered major bruising to his forearms an hour before he was killed, as if he was defending himself.

The evidence prompted theories that his girlfriend Xi Zhou disturbed the killers as he was being attacked at their flat in Newcastle’s West End.

Their home was left covered in blood after the brutal attack, which inflicted severe head injuries on both victims.

Det Supt Steve Wade said the theories put to him by reporters at a Press conference were "a possibility" but he did not wish to speculate "without important evidence".

He said he would be consulting the Chinese community to find out if anyone knew of any ritual the dead black and white cat might represent. Mr Wade said: "It begs the question as to whether there’s anything within the Chinese culture, or significance in terms of the killing of it. I don’t know. If there is, I would like to know what it is.

"If there is something of significance in respect of the killings of Chinese citizens, linked to the death of cats, I would like to know about it.

"Because of the position of the towel and gloves, it could not have fallen into the water and drowned."

A vet was called in yesterday to carry out a post-mortem examination on the cat, the results of which are not known.

Mr Wade said air and sea ports were on alert across the country and he was looking to see if there were any similar killings elsewhere that could be linked.

But he said there was still nothing to suggest gang involvement or drugs links and he hoped to consult specialists to build up an offender profile.

Yesterday police released a new picture of Miss Zhou, known to friends as Ci Ci, wearing a waitress uniform from the city centre Wagamama restaurant – similar to that in which her body was found.

The 25-year-old couple were discovered dead on Saturday afternoon by three friends, including a former tenant of the downstairs Tyneside flat in Croydon Road, Fenham, two days after the last known sighting of Miss Zhou as she left work in Old Eldon Square.

She died of head injuries and asphyxiation, but Mr Wade said her boyfriend’s injuries were far worse.

Making a fresh appeal for information, he said: "He has certainly been subject to an extensive assault which has caused very significant bruising to the forearms. It would appear that the assault has probably gone on for an hour or more prior to death.

"In that respect I would imagine people might have heard screams or seen people coming and going from the address." He said it was possible Miss Zhou had walked in as Mr Yang was being attacked, but said: "Without very important facts that we’re missing, I wouldn’t like to speculate."

Police officers will be welcomed into Friday’s service of the International Christian Fellowship. Pastor Eddy Tang said he had put a congregation member who knew the couple in touch with police.