Hunt for weapons in double murder

Xi Zhou and her boyfriend Zhen Xing Yang studied at Newcastle University

Police investigating the murders of a Chinese couple in Newcastle are continuing their hunt for the weapons used by whoever killed them.

Xi Zhou and her boyfriend Zhen Xing Yang were found with severe head injuries inflicted by a knife and another sharp weapon, police said.

It is possible the couple, both 25, knew their killer as there was no sign of a break-in at the Croydon Road flat.

Detectives have described the murder as "frenzied".

Det Supt Steve Wade said: "The crime scene was very unpleasant, one of the worst I have seen during a long career, sadly."

Chinese media

He added: "It was a vicious attack, there was a lot of blood and I think in any interpretation that was a frenzied attack."

Mr Wade said it was likely that whoever carried out the murders would have left the scene heavily bloodstained.

Both had wounds consistent with trying to defend themselves.

Post-mortem examinations showed Xi Zhou may also have been asphyxiated.

Detectives from Northumbria Police are still trying to trace the couple's final movements.

The scene has been described as "gruesome"

The pair had successfully completed Masters degrees at Newcastle University.

Mr Wade said a painstaking and thorough forensic examination was being carried out and CCTV from the area was being viewed by officers.

"House-to-house inquiries are continuing in the vicinity of the crime scene and the search of the scene is ongoing looking for possible weapons used in the attack.

"We are using Chinese media outlets, internet websites, and community contacts to try and build up a lifestyle profile of the victims and identify the last sightings of the couple alive," he said.

Detectives confirmed on Tuesday that they had finally traced Zhen Xing Yang's mother in China and informed her of her son's death.

The multi-cultural area in Newcastle's West End is popular with students, particularly those from the Chinese community.

Extra police patrols have been put on duty in an attempt to reassure residents, and officers plan to speak to local community leaders.

Police have also been carrying out house-to-house inquiries in the area and are urging anyone with any information to contact them.

Eddy Tang, minister of the International Christian Fellowship in Newcastle, said the couple were popular in the Chinese community.

He said there was a large Chinese student population in the city who had been scared by what had happened.