MMU lecturer murder trial begins

The trial of the murder of lecturer Jifeng “Jeff” Ding, along with his wife and two children, has begun.

Anxiang Du, a previous business partner of Jifeng and his wife Helen, denies four counts of murder.

The prosecution has accused Mr. Du of stabbing Jifeng and Helen Ding to death in the kitchen, before going upstairs and killing Xing, 18, and Alice, 12, where they were “cowering in their bedroom”.

The jury at Northampton Crown Court has heard how a bloody fingerprint of Mr. Du was found at the scene, as well as footprints in blood around the house.

A 999 call made by Xing was played to the court, in which the screams of both girls are heard before the line went dead.

Evidence was also heard from a young girl playing near the house, who heard a “shriek” at the time of the murders but was unable to say if it was “a scream of anguish”.

The trial continues.