Millionaire Hans Rausing was charged yesterday with preventing the lawful and decent burial of his wife, Eva, whose body was found underneath several layers of clothing and bin bags at their luxury home.
Rausing, a chronic long-term drug addict like his wife, looked frail in the dock at West London Magistrates’ Court. He was granted conditional bail that he appear again at Isleworth Crown Court on July 26th.
Police discovered the body of mother of four Mrs Rausing in an advanced state of decomposition over a week ago after they arrested her husband – the heir to the Tetra Pak liquid container fortune – on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Mrs Rausing, one of Britain’s richest women, was found beside a bed in an annexe on the second floor of the opulent house in Cadogan Place in London’s Chelsea, which she shared with her 49-year-old husband.
Bearded and bespectacled, Mr Rausing spoke only to confirm his name, age and address in court today. Mr Rausing, whose family made a fortune when they sold the Tetra Pak drinks carton business in the 1990s, was wearing a dark suit and light blue shirt. District Judge James Henderson told him: “I grant you bail on two conditions. The first is that you must reside at the Capio Nightingale Hospital . . . and you do not leave that hospital unless you are accompanied by a member of hospital staff.” – (PA)