Police hunt ‘business associate’ over Northampton murders

Detectives investigating the murders of a popular university lecture and his family have released the name of a suspect.

Anxiang Du, 52, was described as a business associate of Jifeng Ding, who was found dead along his wife Helen Chui and their daughters Xing and Alice inside their detached house in Simpson Manor, near Wootton, Northampton, on Sunday. All four had suffered stab wounds.

Police said Du, who like the Dings was of Chinese origin, managed a Chinese herbal medicine shop in Birmingham and had “common business interests” with the family.

Det Supt Glyn Timmins said the possibility that Mr Ding had fallen out with Du over a business matter was “a line of inquiry that we are pursuing”.

Police said Anxiang Du was from the West Midlands and had ‘commong business interests’ with the dead man.

He added that he “did not believe” the killings were gang-related, despite newspaper reports speculating about the involvement of Chinese triad gangs.

Police are hoping to trace a five-door silver Vauxhall Corsa, registration BG60 PMO, which had been hired by one of the murdered family but disappeared from outside their home. It was last seen outside the house on Friday.

Det Supt Timmins described Du as a slim man who habitually wears a baseball cap to cover a bald spot, and is known to carry a rucksack.

He warned members of the public not to approach Du, who is thought to be scared and nervous, or the car and to call 999 instead.

Police revealed they have not yet found a murder weapon and are retracing Du’s last known movements. The suspect is thought to have got to Northampton on the train, then escaped in the missing car

Du left for work in Birmingham 1030am on Friday. He failed to return home, and left a suicide note behind, police said.

Students at Manchester Metropolitan University have set up a Facebook page called the Jeff Ding Appreciation Society.

Mr Ding, 46, known as “Jeff”, was a senior lecturer who worked at Manchester Metropolitan University’s school of chemical and environmental science.

Alice, 11 was a pupil at Caroline Chisholm School while her sister Xing, 18, attended the private Northampton School for Girls. Her mother is understood to have taught Mandarin Chinese at the same school.

Students at Manchester Met have set up a Facebook page called the Jeff Ding Appreciation Society. Members described the dead man as “the nicest chemistry lecturer”, “helpful and friendly” and “a good man”.

Friends of Alice and Xing have also set up tribute pages on the social networking site.

A Manchester Metropolitan University spokesman said the institution was “shocked and saddened by the news of the death of Dr Jeff Ding”.

He added: “As a senior lecturer, Jeff was a popular and dedicated member of staff who joined the University in 2004. Dr Ding taught chemistry and was also active in schools liaison and led a successful chemistry admissions team. He was also a respected hall warden where he provided pastoral support and guidance to many students.

“Jeff will be very sadly missed by all his colleagues in the Division of Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, all our staff, students and his friends at Manchester Metropolitan University and by the wider academic and research communities.

“The University is offering counselling and support to Jeff’s students and colleagues at this time. The University requests the media to respect staff and students’ privacy during the current exam period.”