Poker Player Found Guilty of 'Body in Suitcase Murder'

A UK jury issued a guilty verdict in the murder trial of a poker player who was convicted of killing and dismembering a fellow Chinese national in a failed scheme to pay off gambling debts.

Mounting losses at the poker tables was apparently the motive behind the shocking murder orchestrated by Ming Jiang, 43, who will be sentenced on May 2 at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court. The victim, Yang Liu, 36, was a friend of Jiang's and could sometimes be found seated at the same Manchester 2/5 poker tables.

Liu's torso was found in a charred suitcase by passersby at a Derbyshire lay-by. His arms, legs and head have yet to be recovered, the Manchester Evening News reported.

Money Woes

Trial testimony revealed that Jiang had lost £273,115 at the casino and was having difficulties keeping debt collectors at bay. He lured Liu to his home in Beswick last October and bludgeoned him to death, police stated.

Jiang attempted to conceal the crime by hacking up the body, stuffing the torso in a Samsonite suitcase. His scheme went awry due to dogged police work after the suitcase was discovered at the A628 Woodhead Pass near Tintwistle.

Clever Cops

Police combed through hours of Woodhead Pass CCTV footage along with piecing together motorist accounts of seeing the suitcase on fire. Out of more than one hundred vehicles that traversed the road during the timeline in question, only one vehicle made a back and forth trip - Jiang's Mercedes.

Ten days later, the cops pulled Jiang over and impounded his vehicle, but let him go while the Mercedes was analyzed for any incriminating evidence. Sure enough, blood stains were found that matched perfectly with the torso in the suitcase.

Police then went looking for Jiang to place him under arrest and found him - where else - at Manchester 235 casino. The gambling addict was apparently losing more money, the funds belonging to his victim, Liu.

Wealthy Friend

Liu, who was divorced and the father of two children, reportedly was rather well off financially. He had been living in the UK for the past 16 years, receiving citizenship in 2013. Both he and Jiang were originally from Beijing, China.

Liu's parents told police that they worked hard and saved in order to help their son realize his dream of living abroad. He had made a new life for himself and often referred to the UK as his second home.

Fraudster

Jiang, on the other hand, was previously convicted of fraud for a credit card scheme uncovered by the authorities while he worked in Germany for Lufthansa. His next attempt at fraud was assuming Liu's identity after he murdered him.

Prosecutors provided evidence that Jiang was trying to sell Liu's flat in Salford along with taking some of his clothing, using his credit cards, and making withdrawals from his bank accounts. Jiang was also in possession of Liu's passport at the time of his arrest.

Chopped Up

Police theorize that Jiang also used a suitcase to pack up his former friend's extremities and head after chopping the body, but haven't found the remains. A search of Jiang's home revealed evidence of Liu's blood despite elaborate attempts to clean up the crime scene, including fresh paint.

Jiang sent a message to Liu's parents pretending to be their son and assuring them of his safety - which was all a lie. The convicted killer also lied to police, telling them that Liu was a male escort who engaged in homosexual activities with elder Chinese men.

It is Jiang, however, who is gay. Liu, a father and ex-husband, was not, testimony showed.

Police stated that text messages and CCTV film footage played a huge role in solving the crime. Video of Jiang filling up a gas can at a petrol station and withdrawing cash from Liu's account just prior to the suitcase being set on fire spelled doom for the poker-playing fraudster.