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: 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 said: '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 earlier heard Ms Wylde had gone into Glasgow city centre on November 23 1997 and 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 Ms Wylde's flat. Mr Borthwick said: 'She could not make out what was being said and could only hearing mumbling voices.' But the neighbour was then alerted to Ms Wylde yelling for Mary's mother. The prosecutor said: '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 Ms Wylde'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 mother then failed to show for an appointment at a support group. A worker from the group appeared at Tracy's flat and noticed a balcony door was left open. The woman then spoke to Mary McAnemy, who managed to get into Tracy's home. They then made the grim discovery of her body. Mr Borthwick said: '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.' Father-of-two Chen was today jailed for life at the High Court in Glasgow having earlier admitted a murder charge (pictured: The family of Tracey Wylde outside the High Court Glasgow) File CCTV image of Tracy Wylde with Zhi Min Chen on the night of her murder in 1997 The cause of death was found to be 'manual strangulation'. The court heard the initial police probe lasted more than two years. Chen had arrived in Scotland illegally in the mid-1990s fearing human traffickers in his homeland, the court was told. Donald Findlay QC, defending, said the killer initially had a 'lonely and solitary' life in the country. Mr Findlay said: '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 choked Ms Wylde, fled the scene and went on to live 'an ordinary life'. Lord Arthurson told the killer he had caused decades of damage and trauma to Ms Wylde's relatives - not least her daughter who was three years old when her mother was murdered - while going on to enjoy a family life himself. Following his guilty plea, police said Ms Wylde's family had 'never lost faith' that her killer would be brought to justice. Detective Inspector Gordon MacKenzie said previously: 'It is a real shame that Tracy's mother Fay, who died a couple of years ago, is not here to see her daughter's killer held accountable. 'The conclusion of this case sends an important message regarding Police Scotland's commitment to unresolved murders. 'These cases will always be a key priority and our specialist detectives will continue to use the latest advances in technology and any new information which comes to light to provide answers for the families of victims and bring their killers to justice.'All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility