'Cowardly' fast food shop owner who choked mother to death FINALLY jailed

Zhi Min Chen, 44, was arrested last year by police investigating the death of 21-year-old Tracy Wylde

Zhi Min Chen, 44, was arrested last year by police investigating the death of 21-year-old Tracy Wylde

A fast food shop owner who choked a young mother to death and evaded justice for more than two decades has been jailed for at least 20 years after police linked his DNA to the murder. 

Zhi Min Chen, 44, was arrested last year by police investigating the death of 21-year-old Tracy Wylde, who was found dead in her in Barmulloch, Glasgow flat in November 1997.

He pleaded guilty at the city's High Court in April and was today sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years.

Lord Arthurson branded the killing 'brutal and cowardly', telling Chen: '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.'  

The court heard Chen had met Ms Wylde at her flat before a row broke out between them.  

A large scale manhunt to catch the killer - initially lasting two and a half years - proved fruitless, and Chinese-born Chen continued to live in Glasgow, getting married and also setting up a takeaway restaurant.

Chen pleaded guilty at the High Court in Glasgow in April and was today sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years (pictured: An image of Ms Wylde, who was choked to death in 1997)

Chen pleaded guilty at the High Court in Glasgow in April and was today sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years (pictured: An image of Ms Wylde, who was choked to death in 1997)

Chen pleaded guilty at the High Court in Glasgow in April and was today sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years (pictured: The family of Tracey Wylde outside the High Court Glasgow)

Chen pleaded guilty at the High Court in Glasgow in April and was today sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years (pictured: The family of Tracey Wylde outside the High Court Glasgow)

A cold case review in 2013 did not yield results, but police had 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.

Father-of-two Chen was today jailed for life at the High Court in Glasgow having earlier admitted a murder charge.

Chen kept his head bowed as he sat in the dock throughout the hearing, refusing to look at members of Ms Wylde's traumatised family as he was lead to the cells.

How police caught Zhi Min Chen more than 20 years after the murder

DNA from an unknown man was found on Ms Wylde's body and clothes as well as a number of fingerprints in the area, following her death in November 1997.

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.

Prosecutor Steven Borthwick said no progress was made at that time.

It was then in July 2018 that Zhi Min Chen was held for two alleged assaults. 

Mr Borthwick

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