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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Murder police probe 'scam' claims | Murder police probe 'scam' claims |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Police are investigating claims that a Chinese man murdered in Newcastle may have been involved in a betting scam. | Police are investigating claims that a Chinese man murdered in Newcastle may have been involved in a betting scam. |
| Zhen Xing Yang and girlfriend Xi Zhou died after a "frenzied" knife attack at a flat in Newcastle's West End. | Zhen Xing Yang and girlfriend Xi Zhou died after a "frenzied" knife attack at a flat in Newcastle's West End. |
| Detectives said they were aware of rumours circulating that Mr Zhen recruited spectators online to send live updates from UK football matches. | Detectives said they were aware of rumours circulating that Mr Zhen recruited spectators online to send live updates from UK football matches. |
| It is claimed syndicates in China, where matches are televised a minute behind, could take advantage of this. | It is claimed syndicates in China, where matches are televised a minute behind, could take advantage of this. |
| Information passed to Northumbria Police includes details of adverts placed on UK-based Mandarin-language websites, recruiting people to watch football matches around the world. | |
| 'Live information' | 'Live information' |
| One reads: "It is a very simple job, any student who is interested, please contact Zhen Xing Yang." | One reads: "It is a very simple job, any student who is interested, please contact Zhen Xing Yang." |
| An ad posted under the name CICI-UK, his girlfriend's nickname, on the powerapple website last October, reads: "Work: Watch football games and send live information to people. | An ad posted under the name CICI-UK, his girlfriend's nickname, on the powerapple website last October, reads: "Work: Watch football games and send live information to people. |
| "Requirement: Basic understanding of football rules, no professional background needed, advantage if you have a car. | "Requirement: Basic understanding of football rules, no professional background needed, advantage if you have a car. |
| "Location: Sheffield, London, Blackpool, Portsmouth, York, Hull and many other places." | "Location: Sheffield, London, Blackpool, Portsmouth, York, Hull and many other places." |
| Similar adverts requested live information from the Mexican League. | Similar adverts requested live information from the Mexican League. |
| Xi Zhou was caught on CCTV travelling home from work | Xi Zhou was caught on CCTV travelling home from work |
| The couple, both 25-year-old Newcastle University graduates, were found dead in separate bedrooms at the downstairs flat by friends on the afternoon on 9 August. | The couple, both 25-year-old Newcastle University graduates, were found dead in separate bedrooms at the downstairs flat by friends on the afternoon on 9 August. |
| Police said Mr Zhen was "assaulted for more than an hour" before being stabbed. They believe passers-by may have heard his screams. | Police said Mr Zhen was "assaulted for more than an hour" before being stabbed. They believe passers-by may have heard his screams. |
| A post-mortem examination revealed he suffered extensive bruising to his arms before he died. | A post-mortem examination revealed he suffered extensive bruising to his arms before he died. |
| Examinations also showed Miss Xi may have been asphyxiated as well as stabbed during the attack. | Examinations also showed Miss Xi may have been asphyxiated as well as stabbed during the attack. |
| The body of a cat, which had been drowned and hidden in a washing bowl underneath the bathroom sink, was probably killed by the couple's murderer, said police. | The body of a cat, which had been drowned and hidden in a washing bowl underneath the bathroom sink, was probably killed by the couple's murderer, said police. |
| An offender profiler has been brought in to help establish a motive for the killings. | An offender profiler has been brought in to help establish a motive for the killings. |
| Police have also released CCTV images taken as Miss Xi travelled home from work at the Wagamama restaurant in Newcastle last Thursday afternoon. | Police have also released CCTV images taken as Miss Xi travelled home from work at the Wagamama restaurant in Newcastle last Thursday afternoon. |
| Police have not been able to find any occupation for Mr Zhen since he completed his degree in September 2006. | Police have not been able to find any occupation for Mr Zhen since he completed his degree in September 2006. |
| A Northumbria Police spokesman said: "We continue to look into the lifestyle of both victims and internet websites form part of this investigation. | A Northumbria Police spokesman said: "We continue to look into the lifestyle of both victims and internet websites form part of this investigation. |
| "We cannot comment further at this stage." | "We cannot comment further at this stage." |