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Danish inventor denies abuse of corpse charge

Peter Madsen denies the murder and abuse of a corpse charges
Peter Madsen denies the murder and abuse of a corpse charges

Danish inventor Peter Madsen denies a new charge of abuse of a corpse, which police have put to the court investigating whether he killed Swedish reporter Kim Wall on board his submarine.

As they formally identified her torso this week, police said that the body had been weighted down with metal and an attempt had been made to remove gas and air from inside to keep it on the seabed.

Today, police halted the search for Ms Wall's remaining body parts in the waters between Denmark and Sweden, although divers were searching the harbour to which Mr Madsen was brought after being rescued.

Officers declined to comment on why the search had been suspended, other than saying they were ready to begin it again when necessary.

Police have received hundreds of tip-offs in the case and urged the public to keep a look out, especially for the missing limbs and the clothes Ms Wall was wearing - an orange shirt, black and white skirt, and white shoes - when the submarine headed out.

"We also still want to hear from people who can make us more aware of the people involved and their behaviour," the police statement said.

Ms Wall, who was researching a story Mr Madsen, went missing after he took her out to sea in his 17-metre submarine on 10 August.

Police charged Mr Madsen with killing Ms Wall, a charge carrying a sentence of between five years and life in prison, on 11 August when he was rescued after his submarine sank.

Mr Madsen denies both the murder and abuse of a corpse charges, the police statement said.

He and his lawyer say he buried her at sea after she died in an accident.

In its preliminary investigation, the court ordered Mr Madsen be detained until 5 September, pending further inquires, on the lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter.

Police will seek to extend the pre-trial custody when it is reviewed next month, again requesting he be held on the murder charge as they initially did, police spokesman Jakob Buch-Jepsen said yesterday.

The submarine is one of three constructed by Mr Madsen and one of the largest privately-built ones in the world.

It can carry eight people and weighs 40 tonnes when fully equipped.

Police still do not know the cause of Ms Wall's death.