Three Bailed In MMU Lecturer Murder Investigation

19 April 2012, 10:44 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

The three people arrested over the deaths of a Manchester Met Uni lecturer and his family have been released on police bail.

University lecturer Jifeng Ding, his wife Helen Chui and their two daughters Alice, 12, and 18 year old Xing, were found stabbed to death at their home in Wootton in Northampton, on May 1 last year.

 Police are trying to trace Chinese businessman 52 year old Anxiang Du, who has not been seen since the day of the murders.

 He is a former business associate of Mr and Mrs Ding but their relationship had turned sour. 

Yesterday a 54 year old woman was arrested in Coventry, a 39 year old woman in Gloucester town centre and a 25 year old man in Islington, London, all on suspicion of conspiracy to assist an offender.

They were interviewed at local police stations and released on police bail.

The arrests were made as part of a joint operation involving the local forces and East Midlands Special Operations Unit.

Three officers from the unit travelled to China - where family of the victims live - last month as part of the inquiry.

Detective Chief Inspector Tom Davies, who is leading the inquiry, said it was known that Mr Du also had contacts in China.