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Search for murdered pair's lodger Search for murdered pair's lodger
(30 minutes later)
Police hunting the killers of a Chinese couple are trying to trace a lodger who they say rented a room from the pair a week before they died.Police hunting the killers of a Chinese couple are trying to trace a lodger who they say rented a room from the pair a week before they died.
Zhen Xing Yang and girlfriend Xi Zhou, both 25, were found dead at the flat they shared in Newcastle on 9 August.Zhen Xing Yang and girlfriend Xi Zhou, both 25, were found dead at the flat they shared in Newcastle on 9 August.
Mr Zhen had been tortured before being stabbed to death. The couple's cat was also drowned.Mr Zhen had been tortured before being stabbed to death. The couple's cat was also drowned.
Northumbria Police said they were trying to find the unidentified male lodger, thought to be a student.Northumbria Police said they were trying to find the unidentified male lodger, thought to be a student.
The couple died after a "frenzied" knife attack at a flat in Newcastle's West End.The couple died after a "frenzied" knife attack at a flat in Newcastle's West End.
Detectives said information on a seized computer and three mobile phones showed the pair may also have arranged forged professional qualifications. Detectives said information on a seized computer and three mobile telephones indicated that the pair may have arranged forged professional qualifications.
But Det Supt Steve Wade, who is leading the murder hunt, said: "The levels of violence used in the killings is completely disproportionate to the level of minor fraudulent activity discovered on the couples computer thus far. But Det Supt Steve Wade, who is leading the murder hunt, said: "The level of violence used in the killings is completely disproportionate to the level of minor fraudulent activity discovered on the couple's computer thus far.
The floor plan shows the layout of the couple's Newcastle flat
"We must not lose sight of the fact that they are victims of a senseless killing and their parents and friends are left devastated and unable to comprehend what has happened.""We must not lose sight of the fact that they are victims of a senseless killing and their parents and friends are left devastated and unable to comprehend what has happened."
Mr Wade said it had emerged the couple advertised one of their bedrooms for rent by placing an advert on a local Chinese website, which displayed two photographs of the flat together with a contact mobile telephone number. We urgently need to identify this unknown lodger Det Supt Steve Wade
Mr Wade said it had emerged the couple advertised one of their bedrooms for rent by placing an advert on a website aimed at local Chinese people, which displayed two photographs of the flat together with a contact mobile telephone number.
He added: "We now believe that an unidentified male rented a room from the couple on or about 1 August.He added: "We now believe that an unidentified male rented a room from the couple on or about 1 August.
"On 3 or 4 August Mr Zhen routinely contacted his mother in China via telephone and informed her that he had taken on a new lodger."On 3 or 4 August Mr Zhen routinely contacted his mother in China via telephone and informed her that he had taken on a new lodger.
"He informed his mother that the new lodger was a student and that he came from the Jinzhou area of Dalian City."He informed his mother that the new lodger was a student and that he came from the Jinzhou area of Dalian City.
"We have no further information to identify the lodger and enquiries to trace him have so far failed."We have no further information to identify the lodger and enquiries to trace him have so far failed.
"We urgently need to identify this unknown lodger who could have vital information to assist the murder investigation, and to eliminate him from our enquiries." "We urgently need to identify this unknown lodger who could have vital information to assist the murder investigation, and to eliminate him from our inquiries."
A new image of the couple taken recently at Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, which was recovered from a computer found at their flat, has been released along with a floor plan of the flat. Xi Zhou (standing, right) during a night out with friends in Newcastle
New images of the couple of them during a night out and a on a trip to Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, have been released, along with a floor plan of the property.
The photos were found on a computer recovered from their flat.
The couple's bodies were found by friends in separate bedrooms at the downstairs flat.
Mr Wade said: "We have set up a stand alone e-mail address which is northumbriapolice@ymail.com.
"This has been set up to allow people to contact Northumbria Police and they can leave messages in their chosen language.
"The e-mail address has been set up in response to an internet chat room on powerapple.com where we have posted an appeal in both English and Chinese."