There was no gangland or triad involvement in the murder of a Chinese woman in north Belfast last week, a court heard yesterday.
Two men appeared at Belfast Magistrate's Court charged in connection with the murder of the so far unidentified woman, who may have been known as Tina.
Her body was found in the boot of a car stopped by police on Antrim Road last Thursday.
Both men are Mandarin speakers, and the proceedings were explained to them by interpreters.
Mr Chang Hai Zhang (25), of Skegoniel Avenue, Belfast, was charged with the murder of an unknown female between May 31st and June 3th, and faces a second charge of assaulting an as yet unidentified female, and unlawfully and injuriously imprisoning her and detaining her against her will.
Det Sgt Price told the court that the accused had replied "no" to both counts when charged at Antrim Road police station.
Mr Yang Pan ( 25), of Glen Road, Belfast, faces a similar charge of imprisoning the woman.
He was also charged that, knowing or believing that Mr Chang Hai Zhang was guilty of murder, he disposed of a body and other evidence with intent to impede his apprehension or prosecution.
His lawyer, Mr Mark Farrell, asked Det Price to confirm that police had ruled out any gangland or triad involvement in the crime, and that his client had fully co-operated with the investigation.
Det Price said that was correct.
Both men were remanded in custody to appear before a magistrate on July 5th.