New lead in Chinese murder hunt

The couple recently visited Alnwick Castle in Northumberland

Three people were seen outside the flat of a Chinese couple brutally murdered in Newcastle shortly before one of the pair was last seen alive, say police.

Zhen Xing Yang and girlfriend Xi Zhou, both 25, were found on 9 August at their flat in the city's West End.

Mr Yang had been tortured before being stabbed to death.

Police said on Wednesday that a witness saw the trio near the flat less than an hour after Ms Zhou was last seen alive. Officers are now trying to trace them.

The female witness said two of the individuals had their backs to her and she could not see what they looked like, or whether they were men or women.

Friend traced

However, she got a good look at one of the three, who she described as a plump man of Chinese appearance in his late 20s or early 30s.

He was about 5ft 4ins tall with short dark hair.

Detectives have already said they believe the killers would have left by the front door of the Croydon Road flat, some time between the afternoon of 7 August and when the couple's bodies were discovered by friends two days later.

Det Supt Steve Wade, who is leading the double murder inquiry, said: "These three individuals were seen at the front gate of 8 Croydon Road, very close to the time that Xi Zhou arrived home from work on 7 August.

"It is important for us to trace these three and speak to them as they may have important information."

Mr Wade also revealed that police had traced a good friend of Ms Zhou as a result of an appeal to the Chinese community in London.

Officers from Northumbria Police are travelling to the capital to speak with her in an effort to gain a better understanding of Ms Zhou's lifestyle.