Chinese student murder inquiry steps up
Oct 22 2008 by Paul James, The Journal
DETECTIVES investigating the murder of a Chinese couple in Newcastle yesterday moved a step closer to identifying three suspects.
Officers have now been able to complete artists’ impressions of all three men who were spotted standing outside the home of Xi Zhou and Zhen Xing Yang on the afternoon they were last seen.
The bodies of Wagamama waitress Xi Zhou and her boyfriend Zhen Xing Yang, both 25, were found shortly after 4.30pm on Saturday, August 9, in their ground floor flat at 8 Croydon Road, Fenham, Newcastle.
The last known sighting of either of the victims alive was a CCTV image showing Miss Zhou, known as Ci Ci, arriving home from work on Thursday, August 7, at around 4pm. A number of witnesses have reported three Oriental men standing at the front gate to the flat at around 5pm that afternoon. They have previously helped police produce images of two of the men, and a new witness has helped artists create a third.
Detective Superintendent Steve Wade said: “This latest image means we’ve got three witnesses all describing three Chinese men outside the address between 5pm and 6pm on August 7.
“These three witnesses have each described a different man and we have e-fits of two of them and an artist’s impression of one, so potentially we have images of all three men.
“It’s really important that we try to trace these people and eliminate them from the inquiry. Despite extensive publicity asking people with information about the men or the three men themselves to come forward we still haven’t received any information. I’m personally appealing for them, or anyone who knows them, to come forward at the earliest opportunity. There may be an innocent explanation for why they were outside the house and therefore we need to speak to them to eliminate them from our enquiries.”
Detectives are also still trying to trace the mystery lodger who signed up to rent the couple’s back room at the beginning of August.
Anyone with information about the murders can contact Northumbria Police on 0345 604-3043, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
Northumbria Police has also set up a Mandarin and Cantonese message service, on (0191) 221-8200, and an email address where people can leave messages in their chosen language, at northumbriapolice@ymail.com
Descriptions
THE third man police are looking for is thought to be aged between 22 and 25, around 5ft 7ins, of stocky build with a chunky appearance. He had dark spiky hair which was shaven around the back and sides but longer on the top.
He wore square glasses with a silver rim which he wore further down his nose and wore dark clothing, possibly black jeans and a charcoal pullover-type coat which had a hood.
The second man is described as between 5ft 8ins and 6ft, of stocky build and aged about 43.
He had combed back black hair which is described as short and is described as having a very bad complexion due to spot or pock marks to his face. He was wearing a black suit with a grey, round-necked T-shirt underneath.
The first man is of Chinese appearance in his late 20s or early 30s, 5ft 4ins with short dark hair and of plump build. He was wearing silver rimmed glasses, light blue jeans, and a top which may have been Newcastle United’s old blue and white away shirt.
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