Dead cat found in Newcastle murder flat
- 00:01:31
- ITN
Dead cat found in Newcastle murder flat
Police investigating the brutal murder of two Chinese graduates have found a dead cat at the scene. Xi Zhou and her boyfriend Zhen 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 pet cat was found hidden in a washing-up bowl in their bathroom by forensic officers. The bowl was covered with a towel and kitchen gloves. Northumbria Police will consult the Chinese community to find if there was any cultural significance to the murder victims' pet being killed. Detective Superintendent Steve Wade said: "If this cat died naturally, you wouldn't imagine they (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 is being carried out on the cat. Mr Wade said Mr Yang suffered extensive bruising to his arms up to an hour before he suffered fatal head injuries. He would not speculate if the victim, known as Kevin, had been tortured, but said: "He has certainly been subjected to an extensive assault, which has caused very significant bruising to the forearm." Officers have contacted the family of Mr Yang over the phone in Dalian City, China, and they spoke to his girlfriend's family in the province of Hunan earlier. Forensic tests are still to be carried out at the blood-stained address in Croydon Road, three days after the bodies were found by friends of the couple. They met at Newcastle University where they both took MAs, graduating in September 2006. Ms Zhou, known as Cici, worked as a waitress at the Wagamama restaurant in Newcastle. Police have not established Mr Yang's occupation, but say they have ruled out any Triad link, or drugs, and said the murders remained motiveless. Mr Wade added: "We are beginning to make inroads into their friends and associates, but we are a long way short of establishing a motive for this crime, and we are a long way short of arresting anyone."
ITN | August 12, 2008
