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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Couple 'murdered for scam cash' | Couple 'murdered for scam cash' |
| (1 day later) | |
| A Chinese couple could have been murdered for money they made from an internet betting scam and selling false qualifications, a court has heard. | A Chinese couple could have been murdered for money they made from an internet betting scam and selling false qualifications, a court has heard. |
| The mutilated bodies of Zhen Xing Yang and his girlfriend Xi Zhou, both 25, were discovered in their flat in Croydon Road, Newcastle, on 9 August. | The mutilated bodies of Zhen Xing Yang and his girlfriend Xi Zhou, both 25, were discovered in their flat in Croydon Road, Newcastle, on 9 August. |
| Guang Hui Cao, 30, of Castle Close, Morpeth, Northumberland, denies murder. | Guang Hui Cao, 30, of Castle Close, Morpeth, Northumberland, denies murder. |
| Unnecessary violence was used if their killer only meant to steal belongings, Newcastle Crown Court was told. | Unnecessary violence was used if their killer only meant to steal belongings, Newcastle Crown Court was told. |
| Miss Xi, known as Cici, was killed when she returned home from a lunchtime shift at a city centre noodle bar. | |
| She was gagged and placed face down on a bed, where she suffocated about 90 minutes later. | She was gagged and placed face down on a bed, where she suffocated about 90 minutes later. |
| She was also struck about the head with a hammer, or a similar weapon, causing her skull to fracture, the jury heard. | She was also struck about the head with a hammer, or a similar weapon, causing her skull to fracture, the jury heard. |
| Mr Zhen, known as Kevin, was placed on another bed in the property and hit about the head and face with a similar weapon. His throat was also cut with a knife. | |
| Guang Hui Cao denies two counts of murder | Guang Hui Cao denies two counts of murder |
| Robert Smith QC, prosecuting, said mobile phones and a laptop computer were taken from the flat. | Robert Smith QC, prosecuting, said mobile phones and a laptop computer were taken from the flat. |
| But the level of violence used was not "even remotely necessary" to take those items, he said. | But the level of violence used was not "even remotely necessary" to take those items, he said. |
| There was, however, evidence that Mr Zhen made a living selling false qualifications and that he assisted in a fraudulent internet betting operation, the court heard. | |
| "Whether this affords an explanation for the action of the person or persons responsible, it's certainly a realistic possibility, particularly if those facts became known to them," Mr Smith said. | "Whether this affords an explanation for the action of the person or persons responsible, it's certainly a realistic possibility, particularly if those facts became known to them," Mr Smith said. |
| The court was told that Miss Xi earned £14,000 a year as a waitress and Mr Zhen had officially earned just £3,000 in the past year. | |
| But police discovered £233,690 had passed through their bank accounts. | But police discovered £233,690 had passed through their bank accounts. |
| Bloodstains | Bloodstains |
| Mr Smith told the jury it was "impossible to say" whether any money was taken from their home on the day the couple were killed. | Mr Smith told the jury it was "impossible to say" whether any money was taken from their home on the day the couple were killed. |
| Mr Guang initially made contact with the couple when they placed an advert to sub-let their spare room to a Chinese student, the court heard. | |
| Mr Smith said: "He was not a student and he did require a room. He had seen that advert and had used it to make contact. He had done so in order to gain access to the property." | Mr Smith said: "He was not a student and he did require a room. He had seen that advert and had used it to make contact. He had done so in order to gain access to the property." |
| During their investigations, police found a pair of trousers, heavily stained with Mr Zhen's blood, which also contained traces of Mr Guang's DNA. | |
| Mr Zhen's spectacles and watch, also splattered with blood, were found in Mr Guang's home. | |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |