Another motive for murder of couple

Aug 30 2008 by Paul James, The Journal

THE Chinese couple murdered in their Newcastle home may have been killed by a gang of thieves who target foreign students across the UK.

The potential motive was revealed yesterday by Det Supt Steve Wade as it emerged that there may have been items taken from the victims’ flat in the city’s West End.

On the eve of today’s three-week anniversary of the discovery of the bodies of Xi Zhou and Zen Xing Yang, he made a fresh appeal to the Chinese community to help him find their killers.

Det Supt Wade said the gang could be targeting Chinese students they perceive to be wealthy by responding to adverts for rooms for rent.

He is still trying to find the mystery lodger who signed up to rent the couple’s back room at the beginning of this month, after it was advertised on local Chinese websites.

Detectives are still not ruling out a motive arising from the couple’s links to an internet football betting ring.

But Det Supt Wade, who initially believed there were no signs of a robbery at the flat, would not reveal any details of his inquiries into what may be missing.

He said: “We’re quite keen to explore another potential motive – whether it was linked to some Chinese organised crime groups targeting foreign students or young people in the UK.

“While we have to keep an open mind as to what the motive was, the internet betting scam isn’t necessarily a closed line of inquiry, but it isn’t the major line of inquiry we’re pursuing at this stage.

“The major line is looking at the targeting of young people throughout the UK, possibly for monetary gain or robbery.

“That’s certainly the case in the London area. We’ve had one similar attack in the North East a number of years ago. It’s important we keep an open mind. There have certainly been no other homicides of this kind.

“This is exceptional in respect of the fact that two people are dead, but we have some robbery offences committed, and burglary offences committed, where people have had flats up for rent.

“They have been Chinese people. They have had their possessions stolen.

“Some of the cases have been solved across the UK.

“One of the things we’re looking at is whether these people are still in custody, and if they’re not whether they’re in a position to commit this offence against our victims.”

Police yesterday began placing posters in both English and Mandarin around the West End, asking the public to come forward with any information they have and including details of the £5,000 police reward for information that helps convict the killers.

Xi Zhou, known as Ci Ci, and Zhen Xing Yang, known as Kevin, were discovered dead at their Croydon Road, Fenham, Newcastle, shortly after 4.30pm on Saturday, August 9.

Miss Zhou was last seen on the afternoon of Thursday, August 7 after she left work at the Wagamama noodle bar in the city centre and went home, a journey confirmed by CCTV footage.