Published on ShanghaiDaily.com (http://www.shanghaidaily.com/)
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2008/200811/20081119/article_381189.htm
Bloody shoes lead to love murder arrest
Created: 2008-11-19 1:31:08
Author:Xu Fang
A dish washer and her lover were charged with murder yesterday for allegedly conspiring to bludgeon the woman's husband to death.
The victim, Chen Ming, was killed on his way to work on May 23. His body was found the next day, but his bicycle and cell phone were missing.
Police said they thought they were investigating a robbery case until they discovered the alleged plot by Chen's wife, Xu Qi and her lover, Zhang Lin. Zhang, 36, was a chef at a local hotel, and Xu, who is six years older, worked at the same place washing dishes. In February, Zhang broke up with his girlfriend and Zhang and Xu became lovers, according to police.
Authorities said the pair often met at Xu's home as the woman's child lived on campus and her husband often worked the night shift. But they were afraid their love affair would be discovered by Chen and decided to kill the man, prosecutors said.
They began to follow Chen to become familiar with his route, and Zhang prepared an iron pipe as the weapon, according to authorities. On May 23, Zhang waited in a roadside green space while Xu stayed at home, police said. When Chen passed the green space, Zhang allegedly hit him on the head with the pipe.
Xu reacted with great sorrow when she was told her husband was killed, and she was not suspected of any involvement in her husband's death.
The police first targeted a man surnamed Zhou. Officers said they found Chen's cell phone at his residence and discovered he had sold the bicycle owned by Chen.
Zhou told police he saw a man lying on the lawn bleeding, and seeing no one around, he took the man's cell phone and bicycle. His account was confirmed by surveillance video.
The police turned their attention to Zhang after his love affair with Xu came to light. Investigators said they found Chen's blood on a pair of shoes owned by Zhang, and the suspects then confessed to the murder plot.
The victim, Chen Ming, was killed on his way to work on May 23. His body was found the next day, but his bicycle and cell phone were missing.
Police said they thought they were investigating a robbery case until they discovered the alleged plot by Chen's wife, Xu Qi and her lover, Zhang Lin. Zhang, 36, was a chef at a local hotel, and Xu, who is six years older, worked at the same place washing dishes. In February, Zhang broke up with his girlfriend and Zhang and Xu became lovers, according to police.
Authorities said the pair often met at Xu's home as the woman's child lived on campus and her husband often worked the night shift. But they were afraid their love affair would be discovered by Chen and decided to kill the man, prosecutors said.
They began to follow Chen to become familiar with his route, and Zhang prepared an iron pipe as the weapon, according to authorities. On May 23, Zhang waited in a roadside green space while Xu stayed at home, police said. When Chen passed the green space, Zhang allegedly hit him on the head with the pipe.
Xu reacted with great sorrow when she was told her husband was killed, and she was not suspected of any involvement in her husband's death.
The police first targeted a man surnamed Zhou. Officers said they found Chen's cell phone at his residence and discovered he had sold the bicycle owned by Chen.
Zhou told police he saw a man lying on the lawn bleeding, and seeing no one around, he took the man's cell phone and bicycle. His account was confirmed by surveillance video.
The police turned their attention to Zhang after his love affair with Xu came to light. Investigators said they found Chen's blood on a pair of shoes owned by Zhang, and the suspects then confessed to the murder plot.
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