Reward spurs leads in Chinese murder probe

Aug 24 2008 by Robert Weatherall, Sunday Sun

POLICE say they have had a “good response” to their latest appeal to catch the killer of two Chinese students.

Just a day after detectives put up a £5000 reward to help track down the person who battered Xi Zhou and Zhen Xing Yang to death, new information has started to come into the inquiry room.

Detective Superintendent Steve Wade of Northumbria Police, who is leading the murder hunt, travelled to London on Friday to hold a Press conference aimed at getting the many different Chinese communities across the UK to come forward with information.

Police have said since the appeal they have had a good response but are not yet able to put an exact figure on the number of any potential new leads.

A force spokesman said: “The response has been encouraging. We’ve had phone calls and responses by email.

“Obviously, because of the language barrier and the time it can take to translate information, we can’t yet put an exact figure on things.”

Det Supt Wade was accompanied by a Mandarin and Cantonese speaking translator during his appeal on Friday. He also revealed he and his team are still keen to speak with a man who is believed to have been lodging with the couple before their deaths.

Forensic experts examining the murder scene have recovered hundreds of DNA, fingerprint and fibre samples, as well as footprint evidence and other exhibits.

Thousands of hours of CCTV footage has been recovered from numerous public and private cameras around the address and it is now being studied.

Police have revealed that the couple were involved in an internet football betting scam, which took advantage of a time delay in the transmission of English football matches to China.

Mr Wade said: “Inquiries are continuing with police forces across the UK to establish if any links exist between the murders in Newcastle and any other part of the country.

“It is important to the investigation to understand who is involved in this process and how it operates.

“I understand people may be concerned that the police will look to prosecute those involved.

“My only objective is to solve this murder inquiry, and information can be passed anonymously to assist in this process. Myself and colleagues are doing all we can to bring those responsible for this brutal murder to justice and we want to work with the Chinese community in the UK.”

Anyone with information about the murders should contact Northumbria Police on 0845-604 3043.”