Two men charged after death of Chinese woman

Two men are due to appear in a Belfast magistrates' court this morning to face charges in connection with the murder last week…

Two men are due to appear in a Belfast magistrates' court this morning to face charges in connection with the murder last week of a Chinese woman.

One of the accused, a 25-year-old man, has been charged with the murder and unlawful imprisonment of the woman in north Belfast.

Her body was found in the boot of a car in north Belfast on Thursday following a police tip-off.

The woman's body has yet to be identified, despite an appeal for information concerning her by the police and a Belfast Chinese welfare group.

READ MORE

Chief Insp Derek Williamson said: "We don't yet know who she was, but I think that young girl deserves the dignity and respect of having her own identity given back to her."

The second suspect, another 25-year-old man, has been charged with unlawful imprisonment and assisting an offender in connection with the woman's death.

It has emerged that the woman, who may have been known as Tina, may have travelled to Belfast from Dublin by bus last Monday.

Police want anyone who travelled on the 18.00 service to contact them if they have any information. A post-mortem examination has been completed, although the results have not been made public.

The PSNI is continuing the investigation into the murder of Mr Kevin McAlorum who was shot dead outside a south Belfast integrated primary school also last Thursday.

Mr McAlorum (31), was shot by gunmen at the wheel of his car as he dropped a child off to school and died at the scene.

It is understood he had INLA connections and was allegedly connected to organised crime.

In Derry a 20-year-old man is due in court today to face a charge of attempted murder.

The charge is understood to relate to an attack on a man at his home in the Waterside area of the city early on Saturday. He was stabbed in the stomach and his injuries are not understood to be critical.

Police believe a Ukrainian man seriously injured in an attack in Co Antrim may have been targeted by racists.

The man, who was with other Ukrainian nationals in the Galgorm area of Ballymena, suffered severe head injuries after they were confronted by two men.

A police spokeswoman said: "The men started to push the Ukrainians and a scuffle broke out during which the victim was pushed to the ground. Police have not ruled out a racist motive for the attack."