Deadly mistake behind takeaway murder

Aug 30 2008 by Dave Black and Hilary Clixby, The Journal

A NORTH East businessman gunned down above his restaurant could have been murdered in a fit of mistaken jealousy.

Illegal immigrant Zhong Guo travelled to Blyth and shot the man he believed was having a relationship with his former girlfriend.

But Northumbria Police last night said they did not know whether Shahdad Pouresmaeilieh was anything other than a business colleague of Yung Fang Zhang.

Guo also shot his former lover twice in his fit of jealous rage, but the woman survived the attack.

Police said the 43-year-old travelled to Blyth with a gun intent on killing his Iranian rival and his former girlfriend in what appeared to be “a crime of passion”.

He was arrested after the body of Mr Pouresmaeilieh – who was shot in the head – was found in a flat above a takeaway shop in the town in March this year.

Yesterday, at Newcastle Crown Court, Guo admitted Mr Pouresmaeilieh’s murder and the attempted murder of Yung Fang Zhang.

The Chinese national of no fixed address also pleaded guilty to an offence of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.

He was further remanded in custody after sentence was adjourned until September 19 by Judge David Hodson. He warned the man he faced a mandatory life sentence.

Speaking after the hearing, Det Chief Inspector Roger Ford, who led the investigation, said: “This was a calculated, cold-blooded killing of a respected businessman.

“Shahdad Pouresmaeilieh was a hard-working businessman in Blyth and also a well-known figure in the business community in the region.

“Zhong Guo travelled to Blyth on the night of March 20 armed with a gun with the clear intention of killing both Mr Pouresmaeilieh and Yung Fang Zhang.

“It is only through pure good fortune Yung Fang Zhang survived despite being shot twice. We could so easily have been looking a double homicide investigation.

“Although we don’t know for certain Zhong Guo’s motive, this appears to be a crime of passion. All three were linked in business, while the killer and Yung Fang Zhang were also linked personally.

“He was jealous of her relationship with Mr Pouresmaeilieh. Our thoughts and sympathies remain with Mr Pouresmaeilieh’s family, who remain deeply upset by what has happened.

“They have acted with great dignity throughout this difficult time as well as helping us with the investigation.

“I’d also like to pay tribute to the Chinese community in the North East who provided us with a great deal of help and information to enable us to bring Zhong Guo to justice.”

The body of Mr Pouresmaeilieh, 44, was found in a first-floor flat above the Dragon House takeaway in Elliott Street, Blyth, on March 20 this year after the alarm was raised by a member of the public.

In a statement issued after the killing, his family, who live in Bedlington, Northumberland, described him as a “gentle, considerate person” whose violent, untimely death had left them devastated.