'Open mind' over murder motive $ b( T7 l; S- {) e5 ^: [. y' C) H; n
% t: y3 A0 |% V& |Detectives investigating the murder of a Chinese couple have said they are keeping an "open mind" as to a motive. M; {+ o& H, l; c- ?2 K1 }
) |. S* k" D9 T: TThe bodies of Zhen Xing Yang and his girlfriend Xi Zhou, both 25, were found in their Newcastle flat on 9 August. ^: z2 q) T) l, E! `; x
: u6 I1 f: d9 R5 h2 }A lodger who is believed to have agreed to take up residence shortly before the killings has not yet been traced. , u% k: L- |# }) l7 V- R7 `. m( o. ?1 ^, s
Police confirmed that one motive being explored is the targetingof Chinese nationals who have advertised rented accommodation, usuallyon websites. 8 F& K Y7 h O 7 I$ }4 d; d6 Y/ }; ]Det Supt Steve Wade said that a number of offenceshave been identified in London, Manchester and the North East whereChinese nationals have posed as 2 p6 f2 {9 U0 f! K) ~' Z8 F# \' ~4 |7 R0 D
3 n5 Z" t7 G9 q) s. d8 xprospective tenants before robbing theoccupants of cash and valuables using violence.8 M( i" {! Z1 D* W( t- d) d
) j; k/ R/ C' T4 l& l"A number of gangs have been identified, mainly from the Fujianprovince of mainland China. We are not aware of any links totriad-based criminality," he said. ' l; P4 c Z/ ?* R7 f9 |& q2 p3 F& V# H
"We are in close liaison with colleagues in Manchester and theMetropolitan Police force area as part of the murder investigation." F5 V3 x- w# {8 |' m
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He added that despite a number of appeals, police had not beenable to trace a lodger believed to have agreed to take up residence atthe flat in Croydon 0 H* X4 }4 h; cRoad, and it was vitally important he wasidentified.' @- h. t7 I# u$ O' h3 e1 e
