POLICE are said to be following specific leads in their investigation into the brutal killing of a Chinese couple in West Honiara over the long Easter weekend.

They are combing the single storey building where Gongzhen Lao and Yuegui Wu were bludgeoned to death inside on Saturday night. The couple operated a Liquor shop and a take-away outlet at the building.

Although no one had been arrested, police believe the nature of the killing had little to do with stealing.

“There are two types of killings that usually happen in this type of homicide cases – one is for stealing, the other is contract killing. Police are of the opinion that someone might have been paid or promised a substantial amount of money to carry out the killing,” insiders said.

An insider who took part in removing the bodies said the injuries reflected “anger on the part of whoever was responsible.” The blows to the various parts of the bodies showed show that anger very clearly,” the insider said.

The initial police assessment seems to be credible because in their investigation immediately after the bodies were discovered in the house, police have recovered about $290, 000 in the couple’s bedroom.

Saturday’s takings – the day the couple was believed to have met their deaths – were not accounted for, the insiders said.

Meanwhile the Vice President of the Solomon Islands Chinese Association, David Quan has appealed to Honiara residents to help police in their investigation instead of spreading rumors.

“Please provide police with any information you may have,” he said, thanking police for their professionalism in the investigations so far. Mr Quan also thanked the people the people for turning up for the march.

Mr Quan said the killing of Mr and Mrs Lao has “shocked and traumatised” the Chinese community in Honiara.

“But we are moved and overwhelmed by the solidarity shown by the people of Honiara in the turn up for the march,” he said.

Sunday’s march brought together an estimated 2, 000 residents – young and old, Chinese and Solomon Islanders and other nationalities.

But while Honiara’s men and women of all walks of life turned up for the march, united in their grief and condemnation of the double killing, not one single Member of Parliament was present.

The only politicians who turned up for the march was Cr Andrew Mua, the Mayor of the Honiara City Council and the deputy premier of Guadalcanal Province. In terms of government officials, only the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, took part in the march.