Pair charged with 2004 murder of Chinese businessman in Wirral

May 16 2009 by Ben Rossington, Liverpool Echo

His body was found by police lying on the floor of his flat covered in bedding.

His brother, Paul Cheung, and a friend became concerned he had not been in contact in the days running up to the grisly discovery being made and called emergency services.

The popular businessman, known locally as “Alfie”, was a money lender among the Chinese community. He had been to the Far East shortly before his death, while his wife was having fertility treatment there.

Mrs Cheung later gave birth to a baby boy, but it is believed she stayed in China, rather than come back to Merseyside.

Police launched an appeal to try to track down Kong soon after the killing. At the time, they believed the Chinese community could be hiding him somewhere in Britain and a £5,000 reward was put up.

Kong arrived in Britain in July, 2003, after he was given a visa so he could study in London.

He was spoken to by detectives shortly after the murder, but disappeared before he was identified as the prime suspect.

He had been living at Cleveland Street, Birkenhead, a short distance from where the murder victim was found.

ben.rossington@liverpool.com