Gang link probed in murder case

Officers investigating the killings of Xi Zhou and her boyfriend Zhen Xing Yang, both 25, in Newcastle's West End last month, were looking into possible links with other violent robberies on Chinese students.

The pair of graduates took in a lodger at the two-bedroom ground-floor flat days before they were found with severe head wounds, and he has not been seen since.

He may have been in a group seen gathering outside the property on August 7 - the day waitress Ms Zhou was last seen alive. Police confirmed not a single penny was found in the property, indicating robbery was a possible motive.

The murder hunt is focusing on other Chinese nationals who have been attacked after advertising rented accommodation, usually on internet sites.

Det Supt Steve Wade, leading the murder investigation, said: "A number of offences have been identified in London, Manchester and elsewhere in the North East, where Chinese nationals posed as prospective tenants before robbing the occupants of cash and valuables.

"A number of gangs have been identified, mainly from the Fujian province of mainland China."

Northumbria Police was not aware of any Triad link.

After the murders, it was revealed that Mr Yang, known as Kevin, could have been in dispute with an international betting syndicate.

He was involved in hiring spectators to watch matches live football matches and to relay information to gamblers, but was accused of not handing over payment.