Glasgow murderer jailed after evading justice for over 20 years

A fast food shop owner has been jailed for at least 20 years for killing Tracy Wylde in Glasgow in 1997.

Zhi Min Chen was only caught last summer when he had to give a DNA sample to police.

was told by a judge that the killing of the 21 year old was “brutal and cowardly”.

The 44 year-old choked Tracy to death at her home in Barmulloch, in November 1997, when the 21 year old the mother of one was working as a prostitute, in at attack described the the judge as was told by a judge as“brutal and cowardly”.

Chen met her for sexual services before a row broke out between the pair at her flat.

He believed Tracy was still alive when he fled.

A large scale manhunt to catch the killer - initially lasting two and a half years - proved fruitless.

Chinese born Chen meantime continued to live in Glasgow, getting married and also setting up a takeaway restaurant.

A cold case review in 2013 also brought no joy.

But, police struck got a breakthrough last summer after Chen was held for an alleged assault in Glasgow's Cowcaddens.

His DNA matched samples found at the scene at time.

Dad-of-two Chen was today/yesterday jailed for life at the High Court in Glasgow having earlier pled guilty to a murder charge.

Lord Arthurson told him: “You should be under no illusions concerning the damage and trauma you murderous attack has caused down the decades and beyond to her family.

“You...proceeded to enjoy the prime years of your adult life in undetected freedom including establishing a family and a business during those years.

“You committed a brutal, cowardly and murderous attack on a vulnerable young woman in her own home.”

Chen kept his head bowed as he sat in the dock throughout the hearing.

He refused to look at members of Tracy's traumatised family as he was lead to the cells.

The court earlier heard Tracy had gone into Glasgow city centre on November 23 1997,

She was last spotted on CCTV around 3.20am the next morning in the city's red-light area.

Prosecutor Steven Borthwick said it was about 4.40am when neighbour Mary McAnemy heard arguing in Tracy's flat.

Mr Borthwick: "She could not make out what was being said and could only hearing mumbling voices."

But, the neighbour was then alerted to Tracy yelling for Mary's mother.

The prosecutor: "The argument culminated in Tracy shouting: 'Sadie, Sadie'.

"Mary went to investigate...but she could not see into Tracy's flat.

"She continued to listen, but could not hear anything further."

The last thing Mary heard was Tracy's door being slammed shut and keys being rattled.

Friends of Tracy visited that day, but got no reply.

The alarm was raised when the mum then failed to show for an appointment at a support group.

A worker from there turned up at Tracy's flat and noticed a balcony door was mysteriously open.

The woman then spoke to Mary McAnemy, who managed to get into Tracy's home.

It was then they made the grim find of her body.

Mr Borthwick: "She was lying on her back with a dressing gown over her body.

"She was observed to be fully dressed...there were marks and bruising around Tracy's neck."

The cause of death was found to be "manual strangulation".

The court heard the initial police probe lasted more than two years.

DNA from an unknown man was found on Tracy's body and clothes as well as a number of fingerprints in the area.

But, no suspect was found before the investigation was closed.

In 2013, police then carried out a thorough review of unsolved cases including Tracy's killing.

Mr Borthwick said no progress was made at that time.

It was then in July 2018 that Chen, of the city's Anniesland, was held for two assaults.

The advocate depute: "His fingerprints were found as being a match with the unidentified fingerprints from the murder scene."

Chen was quizzed - but initially denied any involvement in the killing.

The court heard for the first time today/yesterday Chen's account of what happened.

Chen had ended up in Scotland illegally in the mid-90s fearing human traffickers in his homeland.

Donald Findlay QC, defending, said the killer initially had a “lonely and solitary” life here.

Mr Findlay: “It was during this fairly bleak lifestyle that he used the services of prostitutes.

“It was in that regard he encountered Miss Wylde.”

They went to her flat before a later row turned “violent”. Chen then thought Tracy would call the police.

Mr Findlay: “He was fearful for a number of reasons – not only an arrest and a return to China – but there police are not seen as agents of good.”

Chen then choked Tracy, fled the scene and went on to live “an ordinary life”.

The QC said investigations had been carried out as Chen believed Tracy was still alive when he left that night.

But, he added: “After looking at every single aspect, it was my responsibility to offer advice – I did and Mr Chen accepted that.”

Mr Findlay told the court the killing was “wholly out of character” for Chen.

Lord Arthurson said the minimum jail-term would have been 22 years, but for the guilty plea