Cat found dead at flat murder scene

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

Their black and white cat was found hidden in a bowl in their bathroom by forensic officers who were painstakingly sifting through their home for clues.

The bowl was covered with a towel and kitchen gloves.

Northumbria Police will consult the Chinese community to find if their was any cultural significance to the murder victims' pet being killed.

At a news conference at Byker Police Station, Detective Superintendent Steve Wade said: "If this cat died naturally, you wouldn't imagine the owners would put it in a bowl containing water, cover it with a towel and put kitchen gloves on it."

A post-mortem examination was being carried out on the cat.

Mr Wade said Mr Yang suffered extensive bruising to his arms up to an hour before he suffered his fatal head injuries.

He said the injuries were likely to have been inflicted as he tried to protect his head, but would not speculate if the victim, known as Kevin, had been tortured. Police were unable to say which of the victims was killed first.

Officers have contacted the family of Mr Yang over the phone in Dalian City, China. They spoke to his girlfriend's family in the province of Hunan earlier.