Nelson Cheung Murder: Four People Sentenced

Four people have been sentenced over the murder of businessman Nelson Cheung.

Mr Cheung, who owned a Chinese restaurant in Randalstown, was stabbed 18 times in January 2015.

His wife Winnie was also hurt in the attack.

Virgilio Correia was sentenced to 16 years in prison for the murder.

Christopher Menaul will serve at least nine years in jail for the murder.

They both also received a further 12 years in prison for wounding with intent, and 12 years for robbery, to run concurrently.

Gary Thompson, 34, was sentenced to seven years in prison for robbery.  He received a further three years for assisting offenders and three years for attempting to pervert the course of justice, all to run concurrently.

His partner Lisa Thompson, 35, was sentenced to two years suspended sentence for handling stolen goods and a further two years suspended sentence for assisting offenders and two years suspended sentence for attempting to pervert the course of justice, all to run concurrently.

Detective Chief Inspector Eamonn Corrigan described it as a "brutal and senseless attack".

He said: "Virgilio Correia and Christopher Menaul forced their vehicle off the road at around 12:10am after finishing work. Winnie, who was driving, was concerned that they were being followed as this had happened previously. She slowed down on the Caddy Road to allow the vehicle behind to pass but instead the vehicle pulled alongside their car, ramming them off the road.

"When Mr Cheung got out of the passenger side, Virgilio Correia stabbed him 18 times while demanding money. Meanwhile, Christopher Menaul attacked Winnie Cheung as she sat in the driver’s seat. He reached in from the front passenger door and pulled her from the car by her hair. During the incident Mrs Cheung sustained an injury to her head which required staples and a stab wound to her hand her. This caused life changing injuries to her hand and as a result she can no longer work.

"The two men stole Winnie's handbag which contained an iPad, iPhone, a purse that contained 3 bank cards, around £200 cash, bank statements and a book containing pin numbers and passwords for accounts before they fled the scene in Correia's car which was parked to the rear of the Nelson’s jeep.

"Winnie tried to help save her husband and also ran to nearby houses to call for police help, but tragically, Nelson died at the scene as a result of the stab wounds."

He continued: "This was a particularly brutal and senseless attack on a defenceless couple who were returning home after a hard day’s work. All police enquires lead us to believe that the motivation behind this horrendous crime was to pay off drugs debts.

"Nelson died as a result and Winnie's life has been destroyed - she left Northern Ireland to return to family in Hong Kong within days of her husband's murder. She can no longer work due to her injury and also suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress."

(CD/MH)