WOOTTON MURDER: Neighbours pay touching tribute

Flowers outside the Ding's home in Pioneer Close

A family with so much talent, and yet so much humility.
That is how friends and neighbours yesterday described the Ding family who were stabbed to death in their own home sometime over the last weekend.
Jifeng - known as Jeff - Ding, 46, Helen Chui, 47, Xing Ding, 18, and 12-year-old Alice Ding were found stabbed to death in their home in Pioneer Close in Simpson Manor, Wootton at 6pm on Sunday (May 1). Police have since launched a manhunt for prime suspect Anxiang Du, who was involved in a business dispute with the family.
Friends have left scores of floral tributes outside the family home since the incident.
And yesterday residents of Pioneer Close issued a statement playing tribute to he family.
It reads: "Helen, Jeff, Xing and Alice were long-standing friends and neighbours and were known to us all in different ways.
"The Close and wider Simpson Manor community is far from being one where people keep themselves to themselves. It is a sociable and supportive environment, but without us all ‘living in each other’s pockets’.
"All of the Ding family were part of that network and will be sadly missed by us all in very many ways. They were active members of the Neighbourhood Watch and on a personal level, involved in the lives of many families on Simpson Manor over a number of years.

"Helen taught Mandarin in local schools and businesses and had a dedicated group of students. Like many people, she juggled her work activity with a busy domestic life.
"At home she was the chief organiser, taxi service, enforcer of homework completion and violin practice: a dedicated and devoted mother and wife, and a loyal and supportive friend and neighbour.
"Jeff was quiet, smiling, friendly and always polite and ready to chat when you saw him. He was very much respected and liked by his colleagues and students at Manchester Metropolitan University.
"He was a devoted family man. Both Helen and Jeff were always keen to learn and understand more about British traditions and history and to discover more about their adopted culture.
"Xing was a kind, happy and thoughtful person, and much has already been written about her exceptional academic and musical ability.

"She had accepted a place to study medicine at Nottingham University and had been sharing her excitement about taking that next step in her life with others of her age group at school and in Simpson Manor. With her keen intellect, kindness and consideration she would have made a superb doctor.
"Alice was smiling, lively and curious. Like her sister she was very talented, both academically and musically. She regularly played out with the other children in the Close.
"Alice had been an anti-bullying mentor at school and had the rest of her promising school life and career ahead of her.
"A family with so much talent, and yet so much humility.
"Clearly we are all shocked and very deeply upset by recent events. The members of the Ding family and their friends, colleagues and fellow students are in our thoughts.
"While we understand the tragedy has resulted in considerable public interest and media activity, once the police have completed their on-scene investigations we would appreciate our privacy being recognised.
"Out of respect for Helen, Jeff, Xing and Alice we will not be making any further collective or individual statements."

A statement on the website of Northampton High School, where Xing was a pupil, also pays tribute to the murdered schoolgirl.
It says: 'We are all shocked and devastated by the loss of one of our Sixth Form pupils at the weekend.
'Xing was a wonderful girl, greatly talented in all areas and very popular with girls and staff alike. We have many happy memories of Xing: as a brilliant student; a distinguished musician; a superb public speaker and, most of all, as a loving and generous person. She will be greatly missed and a huge loss to the school community.
'Naturally our main concern now is to help all our girls at this difficult time and we have put in place arrangements to support them. Northampton High School is a strong community and we will all work together to make sure our girls are given the help they need.

'We would like to thank Inspector Lingley and his team of police officers who have been superb in their support of the school along with many people in the community around us. Girls and staff at the school have found this a great comfort.'

Pupils at Caroline Chisholm School, where Alice was a pupil, have been offered bereavement counselling.