Double Murder Sparks Gambling Probe

Brutal
For Zhen Xing and Xi Zhou it was game over on August 9th 2008. The pair shared an apartment at 8 Croydon Road in Newcastle's west end. Police were alerted to the scene after 4 30pm, where they made the shocking discovery.
Both victims were severely assaulted prior to being murdered. It is believed that the 25-year old pair was tortured for up to an hour before they were killed. Their bodies were badly beaten and the male - Zhen Xing - suffered massive injuries to his head. Both victims were repeatedly stabbed with a knife.

Motive
The motive was initially speculated as robbery, but deeper investigation into the case suggests that the Chinese pair may have been involved in untoward online gambling activity. Zhen Xing was known to advertise on language websites in the UK, looking to recruit people to report on soccer matches around the world. The reason is simple: Chinese broadcasts have up to one minute delays in their broadcasting. Zhen Xing stood to profit from the time delays in online betting operations.
Sources claim that Xing used the nickname 'lanyang0201' for posting advertisements on these websites, for betting purposes. Further investigation of the couple's personal computers and cellular phones indicate that they were deeply involved in shady dealings. Disgruntled ‘employees' or ‘syndicates' appear to be behind the murders but the underground operation has deep roots.

Betting scams
The nature of Xing's dealings in the past suggests that he was an old hat at the con game. On the day in question speculation is rife that Xing's girlfriend, Xi Zhou may have stumbled upon the attack. She was suffocated by her attackers. What followed was a grizzly double murder, as well as the drowning of their pet cat. Meanwhile the couple's parents were horrified at the news. A cremation service was held on the 17th September and the ashes were flown out to China soon after.

Breaking news
The latest update is that a gang involved in at least 15 violent attacks in London, Manchester and parts of the north east may have been involved. Xing and Zhou had recently taken in a lodger for one of the rooms in their apartment and he appears to be the key to their violent murders. Newcastle police are now eager to trace the lodger. Police are also searching for three people seen outside the flat on the day in question.