Detectives investigating the Croydon Road double murder have released a third image of a man seen standing outside the address.
The bodies of the former students Xi Zhou and Zhen Xing Yang, both 25, were found shortly after 4.30pm, on Saturday, August 9, after officers from Northumbria Police were called to a ground floor flat at 8 Croydon Road, Newcastle.
The last known sighting of either of the victims alive was a CCTV image showing Xi Zhou arriving home from work on Thursday August 7 at around 4pm.
Following appeals for information a witness came forward and told police that she saw three people standing at the front gate to 8 Croydon Road at around 5pm on Thursday August 7.
She described one of the people in detail and an artist’s impression of the man was released on the BBC’s Crimewatch programme on September 11.
Since that original appeal was broadcast two new local witnesses came forward and a new e-fit of a second man was released to the media on October 2, and broadcast on a Crimewatch reappeal on October 13.
Detectives now have a third image which they are in a position to release to the public. This man was described as standing with his back to Stanhope Street.
He is described as: Chinese, aged between 22 and 25, around 5ft 7ins tall of stocky build with a chunky appearance. He had dark spiky hair which was shaven around the back and sides but longer on the top.
He wore square glasses with a silver rim which he wore further down his nose. He wore dark clothing, possibly black jeans and a charcoal pullover-type coat which had a hood.
E-fit of the second man, screened on Crimewatch re-appeal on October 13.
Described as: Chinese; 5ft 8ins to 6ft tall, of stocky build, is his early 40’s, with short black combed hair. He had a bad complexion with a pock marked face, his eyes slightly more rounded than some oriental eyes. He was wearing a grey round-necked t-shirt and a black suit.
Artsist’s impression of first man, screened on original Crimewatch appeal on September 11.
Described as: The first of the three men seen outside was described on Crimewatch as being of Chinese appearance in his late 20s or early 30s, 5’4″ tall with short dark hair and of plump build.
He was wearing silver rimmed glasses, light blue jeans, a short sleeved white and light blue football-style top, possibly with a logo on the front in the centre.
Detective Superintendent Steve Wade said: “This latest image means we’ve got three witnesses all describing three Chinese men outside the address between 5pm and 6pm on August 7.
“These three witnesses have each described a different man and we have e-fits of two of them and an artists impression of one, so potentially we have images of all three men.
“It’s really important that we try to trace these people and eliminate them from the enquiry. Despite extensive publicity asking people with information about the men or the three men themselves to come forward we still haven’t received any information.
“I’m personally appealing for them, or anyone who knows them, to come forward at the earliest opportunity. There may be an innocent explanation for why they were outside the house and therefore we need to speak to them to eliminate them from our enquiries.”
Anyone with information about the murders should contact Northumbria Police, on 03456 043 043.
Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111, or call Northumbria Police’s Mandarin and Cantonese message service, on 0191 221 8200.
Northumbria Police has created a stand alone email address where people can leave messages in their chosen language, the address [email protected]