'Murderer' of model arrested after tip-off

By Shi Jing (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-02-25 10:03

Police believe they have captured one of the men responsible for the kidnap and murder of a 29-year-old model, Beijing Evening News reported yesterday.

The paper said another man, thought to have been his accomplice, shot himself dead as police closed in. The model, surnamed Zhang, had lived in a luxury community in the Chaoyang district.

Her parents reported her missing in late December after she had not been seen for about a week.

A security guard at Zhang's residence told police she had driven out of the complex on Dec 11.

Police discovered that a 200,000 yuan sum Zhang had intended to use for fund investments had been withdrawn from her account by a man during the course of nine days.

Police issued a description of the man, saying he was about 30 and 1.75 m. He had worn dark clothing and a mask when he withdrew the money, revealing only his eyes.

Despite the scant description, a community security guard near Qingnian Road told police a tenant bore a resemblance to the man who withdrew the money and the suspect was picked up on Dec 31.

The newspaper said 35-year-old He Min told police during questioning he had worked with an accomplice, Li Jianguo. The paper said police tried to pick Li up for questioning on Jan 3 but found him dead in a pool of blood with an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The two had reportedly grown up together and both had previous convictions.

Beijing Evening News said Li invited He to start a business with him in December and told him he knew Zhang, whose family had a lot of money.

The paper said they tricked Zhang into meeting them on Dec 11 and killed her after taking out the 200,000 yuan by using her credit card.