Murdered Chinese couple had been threatened online

May 9 2009 by Tom Wilkinson, The Journal

A CHINESE couple involved in a football betting scam who were murdered in their flat had received a series of threats over the internet before their deaths, a court heard yesterday.

Xi Zhou and her boyfriend Zhen Xing Yang, both 25, were found with horrific injuries in August last year in Newcastle.

Guang Hui Cao, a 31-year-old restaurant worker, denies murdering them both.

At the start of his defence, the jury was told that Mr Yang, known as Kevin, placed adverts on Mandarin language websites seeking to recruit people to watch football matches in the UK and South America.

Adverts were also placed in his girlfriend’s anglicised name, Cici, asking for people to send live information from games, Newcastle Crown Court heard. Paul Sloan QC, defending, said: “Messages were placed on the internet prior to their deaths complaining about the activities of Kevin Yang and Cici, in such terms as ‘Cici has been deceitful’.

“‘Give me the money as soon as possible’. ‘It has been three weeks. You do not even answer the phone, you liar’.”

The internet-writer threatened to reveal the couple’s mobile phone and email addresses online. The messages continued: “Don’t let people be fooled. Ask for money in advance.