£10,000 Reward Offered Over Manchester Met Lecturer Murder

A £10,000 reward has been offered for information which might lead to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the murder of a Manchester Met University lecturer and his family.

Jifeng Ding, his wife Helen and their two daughters were found stabbed to death in their home in Northampton on May 1.

Detectives are hunting businessman Anxiang Du, 52, who is thought to have fled to London after their deaths on April 29.

On Wednesday Detective Superintendent Glyn Timmins, who is leading the inquiry, said a reward of #10,000 is being offered by Crimestoppers for any information ``leading to the arrest and conviction of any person or persons linked to the murders of the Ding family''.

He said rewards are not often offered, but the ``enormity'' of the killing of a ``decent family murdered in their own home'' had led to the unusual step.

He said they hoped the reward would help provide information that would help them bring Du back for questioning.

Mr Timmins also said police have now found CCTV showing Du walking near the site where a hire car missing from the Ding family's home was found dumped in St John's Wood, north London. The footage, which has not been released, apparently shows Du walking on the Edgware Road, near where the car was dumped on Venables Street.

``This is important in the sense that we get our first glimpse of Anxiang Du after he has left Northampton. He appears to be wearing the same clothing and carrying the same bag.

``Although we have not got an accurate facial picture, you would be pretty willing to put a month's wages that that's Anxiang Du.''

Mr Timmins said he did not think Du had committed suicide, as he had shown so much ``determination'' to escape from the scene and travel to London. He said the CCTV provided a starting point, but detectives are frustrated that they are still some way behind Du.