Gambler who chopped up and burnt his wealthy friend’s body in a … – The Sun

CCTV showedformer air steward filla jerrycan with petrol and use the dead man's bank card to pay for it

AN insatiable gambler who chopped up and burnt the remains of his wealthy friend so he could steal his identity and fortune has beenjailed for life.

Debt-ridden Ming Jiang, 43, lured businessman Yang Liu, 36, to his Manchester flat and killed him before dismembering his body with a saw.

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PA:Press Association

Cavendish Press

Cavendish Press

He murderedMr Liu in a bid to steal his identity and get his hands on his cash and 185,000 dockside apartment at Salford Quays in a ruthless bid to solve his gambling problems.

CCTV images showed the former Lufthansa air steward and ex-Louis Vuitton worker filling a jerrycan with petrol and using the dead mans own bank card to pay for it before withdrawing cash from an ATM as part of a sick ploy to cover up his gruesome murder and dispose of the body.

But Jiangs plan came unstuck and he was today jailed for life for murder, ordered toserve a minimum of 33 years.

Judge John Potter branded the murder grotesque and told Jiang: You killed a gentle and kind young man with dangerous cunning for your own selfish desire to feed your gambling habits. You befriended this man and moved in the same social circles as him.

You were given special status in some casinos, despite being banned from others for what is reported as your erratic behaviour. But you came up with a plan which was chilling and which was a murder committed by you for personal gain.

You killed him quickly and your plan was to dispose of his body so as not to leave a trace. You made it look as if he he had disappeared then used your previous experience in identity theft to adopt his identity and thus maintain your VIP persona.

You spent liberally on his credit cards and accounts, even purchasing the petrol you would use to douse his body and set on fire with one of those cards. I cannot begin to understand the torment and anguish the parents of the deceased are feeling.

Cavendish Press

Cavendish Press

Minshull Street Crown Court heard Jiang racked up accumulated gambling losses of 273,115 in two Manchester casinos.

He had metMr Liu while playing poker and roulette wheels at the swanky 235 Casino in Manchester.

Jiang was arrested at a casino on October 20 last year after he was found to have the victims mobile phone and passport on him.

Jiang, who denied the murder, claimed he and Mr Liu were gay lovers.

Police raided Jiangs flat and found traces of Mr Lius blood over the walls, ceilings and sofa where the body was cut up.

The victims headless remains were kept hidden inside Jiangs property for up to four days before they were stuffed in a suitcase.

He then took the suitcase to a remote Peak District layby where they were doused with fuel and set on fire.

Three of the victim's limbs and head were never found and it is not known how he died.

CCTV captured Jiang's Mercedes driving away from the layby on the night Mr Liu's charred body was discovered.

The court heard he used Mr Liu's Barclaycard to buy paints and cleaning products from B&Q to cover up the crime scene before hacking into his victim's Lloyds and Barclays accounts to get cash.

Over the following days, Jiang used the dead man's money to buy 178,000 worth of chips before blowing the lot in the casino - gambling away 800 on the night he dumped and torched Mr Liu's remains.

He also put the victim's flat up for sale and was seen behaving in a "fidgety and rushed" manner during a meeting with a property firm about the selling of Mr Liu's possessions within the apartment.

Peter Wright QC prosecuting said: "This was a murder done for gain. It was about as cold and ruthless as it was calculating."

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Detective Chief Inspector Terry Crompton, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "Lui's family have been completely torn apart by his death.

"Not content with committing the brutal and disturbing murder of his friend, Jiang sought to hide his crimes by abandoning and burning his body before stealing his identity, emptying his bank account and trying to sell his property.

"The pain of Lui's death will haunt his family. It was a despicable crime."

In a statement, Mr Liu's heartbroken family said: "The pain we're suffering is beyond words. We think of our son all the time and we strongly condemn the brutality of the murderer.

"Our physical and mental sufferings can never ever be repaired."

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Gambler who chopped up and burnt his wealthy friend's body in a ... - The Sun