Man on trial in London for killing sister

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LONDON, Jan. 15 (UPI) -- A London man joined the search for his sister after killing her during a fight about drugs, cutting up her body and dumping it, a prosecutor said Monday.

Tony McCluskie, 35, went on trial at the Old Bailey for the murder of his sister, Gemma, 29, The Sun reported. Her headless torso was found in a suitcase in the Regents Canal in March 2012 shortly after she disappeared, with her arms and legs turning up a few weeks later, but her head was only discovered in September.

Gemma McCluskie appeared in the long-running soap opera "EastEnders" during the 2000-2001 season. In 1997-1998 she was in "No Sweat," a sitcom about a boy band.

A prosecutor said McCluskie hit his sister on the head during a fight about his drug use and about his flooding the bathroom in the apartment they shared.

She was quoted as complaining to a friend about her brother: "He puts a spliff in his mouth first thing in the morning and doesn't know what he's doing."

McCluskie tried to mislead police by sending his sister text messages after her death, signing them "Love ya, XX," the prosecuting lawyer, Crispin Aylett, said. He put on a show of helping police, telling them about a former boyfriend who owed his sister money.

"At that stage police had no reason to suspect him," Aylett said. "In fact he was leading them on a wild goose chase."