Headless body in Thames identified

Headless body in Thames identified
by Widiane Moussa and Hannah Summers.
Tuesday, 1 May 2007

A headless corpse fished out of the Thames last month was named this morning as Chinese student Xing Xing Xie.The 23-year-old’s body, dressed in just a skirt and bra, was found stuffed in a laundry bag off South Dock Marina in Rotherhithe on 19 April.

Her head and hands had been sawn off in what detectives believe was an attempt by her killer to disguise her identity.But DNA tests confirmed it was the body of missing student Xie, who lived near Waterloo station. She was last seen by her flatmate four days before her body was found in the river, Southwark Coroner’s Court heard as an inquest was opened and adjourned today.

Coroner John Sampson said: “She went out on the 15th and was reported missing by her flatmate a little bit later when she became concerned after she didn’t return.”Det Insp Andrew Mattrass quashed rumours the student had been pregnant.

He said: “It’s not true – I don’t know where that rumour came from. We believe she was born in China and was studying in London. She had been here since about 2002 and had several visa extensions.” He added: “I would guess that whoever cut off her head and hands did so to make identification more difficult. It didn’t work.” One man has been arrested and bailed, but Mattrass said police were “still actively seeking” those involved in the killing.The coroner adjourned the inquest for two months to allow the “ongoing” murder investigation to continue.