New Pictures of Murdered Manchester Uni Lecturer And Family Emerge

Relatives of a Manchester Metropolitan University lecturer and his family stabbed to death at their home have released new pictures of them to try and help solve their murder.

The bodies of Jifeng Ding, his wife and their two daughters were found at their home in Wootton, Northampton on Sunday 1 May 2011.

Their relatives have also issued a statement through police.

"We are shocked and saddened to lose our family members in such a violent manner. Jifeng and Ge were in the prime of life and had much to offer. Xing and Nancy were bright and talented children who had their lives in front of them.

To have our family taken away from us in this way is unbearably painful. This was a loving, decent family working hard and doing no harm to anyone; no-one deserves to die in such a way. We appeal to people in the United Kingdom and especially those in the Chinese communities in the UK to help the police in Northampton to find suspect Anxiang Du and let justice take place."

Detective Superintendent Glyn Timmins, who is leading the murder enquiry, told heart: "This is a shocking and brutal murder of a family with everything to live for. Having worked in the major crime environment for a number of years even I am appalled by the unnecessary ferocity used in the slaughter of a family in the place where they should have been safest – their home.

"I would implore members of the public to be vigilant, especially in terms of locating the Vauxhall Corsa, BG60 PMO. Your information will be treated carefully and sensitively, please do call."

Meanwhile, a car belonging to a family of four who were murdered in their home in Wootton, is still missing.

Police have stepped up their hunt for the missing silver five door Vauxhall Corsa linked to the murder of family of four in Wootton, Northampton.

The car is believed to have been taken by murder suspect, Chinese businessman Anxiang Du following the killings on Friday April 29.

Despite a number of media appeals, including showcasing an identical Vauxhall Corsa with the same registration number BG60 PMO, and a retrace of the route believed to have taken by Mr Du on the Friday, there has been no information as to the whereabouts of the vehicle, or sightings of it

Detective Superintendent Glyn Timmins, leading the investigation said: "Unfortunately the car is still missing. Being able to locate the car would provide us with a vital step in trying to trace the steps taken by Mr Du and potentially lead us to him. Finding the car is a key priority for the enquiry.

"The lack of ANPR hits made on the vehicle is still puzzling for the major investigation team.

"However through this re-appeal I am keen to focus in particular at anyone who works within public car parks, owns or runs car parks, anyone who issues tickets or is involved in towing away cars. Although it is impossible to say where the car currently is, there is a strong possibility that it has been abandoned in a car park or other busy place not making it immediately stand out to people."

Anxiang Du, 52, is believed to have stabbed to death university lecturer ifing Ding, 46,  his wife Helen, 47,  daughters Nancy, 18, and Alice, 12 -  the day after he lost tens of thousands of pounds in a court ruling.

The family were killed at their detached home in Pioneer Close, Northampton at lunchtime on Royal Wedding Day.

But the murders were not uncovered until Sunday May 1st when concerned neighbours called the police. It gave the killer a 48 hour start on detectives.

The motive for the slaughter is a dispute between Mr Du, from Coventry, and Helen over a Chinese Herbal Remedy business.

Mr Ding taught at Manchester Met University, Mrs Ding worked part-time as a Mandarin teacher at Caroline Chisholm School in Northampton, where Alice was a Year Seven student. Xing was a sixth form student and deputy head girl at the private Northampton High School. Both girls were talented musicians.

Detectives say the blood-stained killer escaped in a silver Corsa car hired by Xing. But they are puzzled that it has not been picked up on number plate recognition or CCTV tapes since the killings.

Despite a search of the area, including drains, the murder weapon has not been found.