This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/tyne/7686587.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Three held in double murder probe | Three held in double murder probe |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Three men have been arrested on suspicion of the murder of a Chinese couple in Newcastle. | Three men have been arrested on suspicion of the murder of a Chinese couple in Newcastle. |
| The mutilated bodies of Zhen Xing Yang and his girlfriend Xi Zhou, both 25, were found in their flat on 9 August. | The mutilated bodies of Zhen Xing Yang and his girlfriend Xi Zhou, both 25, were found in their flat on 9 August. |
| The Chinese men, aged 22, 30 and 33, were arrested in raids in Newcastle and Morpeth in Northumberland on Thursday. | |
| A man and a woman were held on suspicion of assisting an offender. A further 12 people were arrested over burglary or immigration offences. | |
| All those arrested are described as Chinese nationals. | All those arrested are described as Chinese nationals. |
| Det Supt Steve Wade, who is leading the investigation, said: "A series of arrests have been made in connection with the murder investigation. | |
| "Searches at the address are currently being carried out and those arrested are being questioned throughout today. | |
| Victim tortured | Victim tortured |
| "It is early stages and we have a lot of work to do but this is a positive development. | |
| "Both families have been informed of these developments." | |
| A raid also took place at a property in Bournmoor, County Durham. | |
| The couple were found dead in separate bedrooms at the downstairs Croydon Road flat by friends. | The couple were found dead in separate bedrooms at the downstairs Croydon Road flat by friends. |
| Mr Zhen was tortured for more than an hour before being stabbed to death. | Mr Zhen was tortured for more than an hour before being stabbed to death. |
| 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 couple's cat was also drowned by their killers. | The couple's cat was also drowned by their killers. |
| The last known sighting of either of the victims alive was a CCTV image showing Miss Xi arriving home from work on 7 August. | The last known sighting of either of the victims alive was a CCTV image showing Miss Xi arriving home from work on 7 August. |
| Several witnesses reported seeing three men outside the couple's home an hour later. | Several witnesses reported seeing three men outside the couple's home an hour later. |