Police plan London appeal over double N-E murder (From The Northern Echo)

Police plan London appeal over double N-E murder

8:43pm Wednesday 20th August 2008 in

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THE investigation into the murder of two Chinese graduates beaten to death in their North-East home is switching to London.

Xi Zhou and boyfriend Zhen Xing Yang, both 25, suffered severe head injuries in their flat in Newcastle's West End on August 9 when they were attacked with a knife and another sharp weapon.

Now police are planning to hold a news conference at London's Charing Cross police station on Friday.

Detective Superintendent Steve Wade, who is leading the inquiry for Northumbria Police, will be giving an update into the investigation. Both Mandarin and Cantonese translators will be present.

''Enquiries are continuing into allegations of internet betting scams and the obtaining of fraudulent university qualifications; however, our inquiries thus far do not reveal the couple's involvement in major criminality and their lifestyle and finances are not what could be expected of anyone involved in organised crime."

Detective Superintendent Steve Wade

Earlier this week detectives revealed an unknown man may hold clues to finding out who is responsible and appealed for him to come forward.

The Chinese man was sub-letting a room with the Newcastle University graduates in their ground floor flat in Croydon Road.

Officers also released a picture of Miss Zhou, known as Ci Ci, and Mr Yang, known as Kevin, on a recent visit to Alnwick Castle in Northumberland.

It has emerged Mr Yang may have been involved in an internet betting scam and may have used forged documents to gain a place at Newcastle University.

Mr Yang had been tortured before he was hacked and stabbed to death, and the couple's cat was drowned by their killers.

Internet users on UK-based Mandarin websites had identified Mr Yang as a recruitment agent for a gambling racket which relied on the results of live Premier League football games being shown a couple of minutes later in China to beat the bookies.

Detectives are checking the murdered couple's bank accounts for possible withdrawals by their killers.

Detectives want to know if Mr Yang was tortured for details of any cash or profits of alleged internet and forgery scams being stashed away.

The officer leading the inquiry said he was keeping an open mind to the motive for the killings.

''Enquiries are continuing into allegations of internet betting scams and the obtaining of fraudulent university qualifications; however, our inquiries thus far do not reveal the couple's involvement in major criminality and their lifestyle and finances are not what could be expected of anyone involved in organised crime,'' Mr Wade said.

''The levels of violence used in the killings is completely disproportionate to the level of minor fraudulent activity discovered on the couple's computer thus far.

''We must not lose sight of the fact that Xi Zhou and Zhen Xing Yang are victims of a senseless killing and their parents and friends are left devastated and unable to comprehend what has happened.''

Police have also set up an email address for people to email directly Northumbria Police. The address is northumbriapoliceymail.com This has been set up to allow people to contact Northumbria Police and they can leave messages in their chosen language.

The stand alone email address has been set up in response to an internet chat room on powerapple.com where detectives have posted an appeal in both English and Chinese.