The Minhang District Prosecutors' Office yesterday approved the arrest of Lu Ning, 34, charging him with murder.

The Jiangsu Province native allegedly confessed to police that he killed a young woman because she refused to "live with him."

After getting a divorce, Lu moved to Shanghai in 2002 to work as a chef. He was surprised to meet his ex-wife in the city, learning she had also left their hometown to open a beauty salon here. To cut down on costs, the divorced couple decided to live together temporarily in an apartment on Caobao Road.

In October 2003, Lu came across an ad looking for extras to work in TV series and movies. Having always dreamed of being on the big screen, he applied for the job.

Lu resigned from the restaurant and became a "professional" extra.

While filming a TV series, he happened to work with Yu Ling, 20, a beautiful extra who played his "wife" in the series. When his ex-wife learned of Lu's new friend, she quietly left him.

Lu began to date Yu, who prosecutors said treated him as a brother. Lu, however, wasn't looking for a sister, he wanted a lover, prosecutors alleged.

He eventually got his wish as the two soon began a short-lived romance. The affair fell apart because Yu already had a handsome boyfriend who was closer to her age.

On the night of February 3, Lu called Yu and lied to her that extras were needed that night for a TV series, prosecutors said.

While Yu's boyfriend was a little worried about her security at night, Yu, eager to earn money, assured him that the "dear brother" wouldn't tell a lie.

When Yu met Lu at a bus station, Lu said shooting would start at midnight and suggested they wait at his home. Yu agreed.

While they watched TV in Lu's home, Lu allegedly tried to kiss Yu several times. When the angry girl was about to leave, Lu tied her hands with his tie and raped her, officials said.

After the rape, Lu asked Yu to live with him, according to police. Yu, naturally, said no.

Feeling insulted, Lu allegedly strangled Yu with his tie, killing her.

Then he allegedly carried the body to the Liujiabang Creek, a manmade creek north of Caobao Road, where he tied a stone to her body and threw it into the water.

Before fleeing to his hometown of Nanjing, Lu allegedly sent a short message using Yu's phone to her boyfriend, breaking up with him - a ruse to keep him from wondering about the woman's disappearance.

But a migrant worker found Yu's body floating in the creek on the morning of February 26. Police arrested Lu in Jiangxi Province on March 4.

Source: Shanghai Daily