Paranoia that led to brutal murder
From Zaharah Othman in London Sun, Aug 03, 2008 The New Straits Times
WHEN the high profile trial of the brutal murder of Chinese student and karaoke club worker Xie Xing Xing, 23, came to a close yesterday, the on-the-edge lives of her convicted murderers, Malaysian Noor Azura Mohd Yusoff, 22, and her Northern-Ireland-born ethnic Vietnamese boyfriend Lon Gian, 26, were exposed.
Before Xie's sensational murder and dismemberment, the activities of Noor Azura, a prostitute, and Gian, a twice-convicted criminal, were found to be as bizarre as the murder itself.
The trial exposed a life of drugs, sex, violence and prostitution, with the key players assuming different identities at different times. It also unveiled a disturbing love story between Noor Azura and Gian, which was peppered with jealousy, mistrust and threats leading to the brutal murder.
Court 16 of the Old Bailey learned that as a Malaysian overstayer who was on the run and making a living as a prostitute, Noor Azura had assumed several names. While she was known to her friends as Princess, she also went by the names of Putri, Jenny, Latina Soffyah, Fioneia and Freda Formandez.
Similarly, Gian had the aliases Alan, Lon, Lun and Lee.
Details of how the young girl, who came to Britain and later overstayed, became involved with a criminal and descended into a life of prostitution and drugs, is sketchy. Noor Azura and Gian chose not to give evidence in court, preventing the prosecution from cross-examining them and forcing them to rely on evidence of witnesses and their written and signed statements at the time of their arrest in Birmingham.
But key insights into their tempestuous relationship was gleaned from Noor Azura's diary, which could only track her presence in Britain as far back as 2005, when she wrote, a day before her birthday on Nov 24:
"Today is my special day. I have someone to celebrate my birthday tomorrow. He is very nice and good. He treats me and loves me very well. He is a very good man. Not like my ex. He is very special. This is the most happy thing. Trach Lon Gian ... I give all the space in my heart to you."
The duo's relationship soon took on an obsessive intensity, which was reflected in Noor Azura's text messages to Gian, whom she referred to as "my husband".
The couple, who had moved in together to a house in London, were often separated on account of Noor Azura's job, which took her to the city of Birmingham. While away, Noor Azura would send Gian numerous love text messages, some of which contained her promises to him of various sums of money.
Meanwhile, Noor Azura fiercely guarded her boyfriend from perceived rivals. Her jealous streak would often surface among those she considered threats, such as victim Xie and her flatmate, Rui Li In, whom she warned to stay away from Gian.
In a phone call she once made to Rui Li, Noor Azura interrogated her about the nature of Xie's relationship with Gian. When told about the phone call, Xie revealed to Rui Li that Noor Azura had threatened to kill her.
However, in spite of the ups and downs of their relationship, it was clear that Noor Azura and Gian had stuck together, even after the murder.
On the morning of the ill-fated day, Noor Azura had taken the train back to London from Birmingham. Upon reaching her house, she was angered to find Xie, Gian and another man, Vietnamese national Chanh Ngo , who has since fled the country, in the house. Xie was high on cocaine and in the middle of a fight with Chanh Ngo.
It is unclear what transpired in the house, but Xie would sustain two stab wounds to the neck before being decapitated while still alive. Her body would be cut up and dumped into the Thames.
The two went on with their lives, but when a team of investigators led by Detective Chief Inspector Carl Mehta linked them to the murder, their movements were followed and their phone calls recorded.
Noor Azura was finally arrested while in a London taxi, when she told police that she was a "half Malay, half Chinese prostitute".
She, like Gian, initially denied knowing Xie, but later admitted that she had slapped and hit Xie and called her murder "a mistake".
Noor Azura's defence counsel, Peter Carter, said his team would appeal her 15-year sentence and his client would continue to hold on to the hope that she would soon be reunited with her ailing mother in Malaysia.
Noor Azura's case comes in the wake of the British government's decision to impose visas on Malaysians travelling to the country.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, during his visit to London to meet Minister Meg Munn recently, voiced his concern over illegal activities by Malaysians who had overstayed in Britain.
He hoped that Malaysia would be able to improve its record and persuade the British government to reconsider its decision.
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