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February 24, 2021

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Murder suspect caught after 23 years

By Chen Huizhi | 00:00 UTC+8 February 24, 2021 | Print Edition

A MAN who allegedly killed a woman in Shanghai in 1997 has been arrested, police announced yesterday.

Police in Songjiang District began their investigation more than 23 years ago after female body parts were discovered under a bridge and in a village creek.

Based on personal belongings found nearby, the body parts were identified as those of a woman surnamed Zhang who used to sell plastic bags in a wet market in the suburban district.

Zhang鈥檚 family told police she disappeared in May 1997.

Based on the way she was dismembered, forensic experts established Zhang was most likely killed by someone skilled at animal slaughtering or other knife-related work. They also suspected the murderer had stored the body parts in a freezer before discarding them.

From the handle of a plastic bag, police found a piece of the suspect鈥檚 biological evidence, but they were not able to find him.

Thanks to developments in forensic science, a 66-year-old man surnamed Cai was identified last year as a suspect and apprehended at his Songjiang home.

Cai, who sold pork in the wet market where Zhang worked, has since confessed to the murder. He allegedly said he tricked Zhang to go home with him where he tried to take advantage of her, and killed her because he feared she would report him to the police.

Zhang was 25 years old and married at that time as was Cai, who said he changed jobs after the murder and has been living in fear ever since.

Last year, city police solved eight murder cases from previous years, three of which dated back more than 20 years.

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