9:12am Tuesday 12th August 2008
© Press Association 2010
Police are continuing their hunt for the weapons used to murder a "hard-working, respectable" couple in a frenzied attack.
Graduates Xi Zhoun and her boyfriend Zhen Xing Yang, both 25, suffered severe head injuries when they were killed with a knife and another sharp weapon.
The bodies of the Chinese nationals were found on beds in separate bedrooms of their flat in Newcastle's West End on Saturday afternoon.
Detectives have yet to establish a motive, but believe the killer or killers may have been known to the victims as there was no sign of a break-in.
Det Supt Steve Wade, leading the investigation, said: "A painstaking and thorough forensic examination is being carried out.
"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."
Friends of the couple made the gruesome discovery at the two-bedroom ground floor flat in Croydon Road after one broke in through an unlocked window and found Ms Zhou's blood-stained body.
They immediately called police who found Mr Yang dead in the front bedroom.
Mr Wade urged anyone who knew the couple to call the incident room on 03456 043043 ex 62832.
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