London EastEnders

Watch this archive video footage of forensic officers searching near the Regent's Canal lock during their investigation into the death of Gemma McCluskie.

The judge said the trial must not be further delayed. He said: "The family must have closure."

Mr McCluskie lived in Peter Street, Hackney, east London, with his 29-year-old sister.

She went missing after attending the £650 million opening of the new Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, east London.

Her limbless body was seen floating in the water a week later.

Miss McCluskie played Kerry Skinner in the BBC soap in 2001.

The defendant joined friends who launched extensive searches across east London to find her.

Former EastEnders co-stars Natalie Cassidy and Brooke Kinsella both appealed on Twitter for help.

The brother of former EastEnders actress Gemma McCluskie, found dead in a canal, pleaded guilty today to her manslaughter.

Tony McCluskie, 35, claims to have "suffered loss of control" leading to her death on March 1.

Prosecutors are still waiting for a medical report to establish how she died.

McCluskie appeared at the Old Bailey by videolink from Belmarsh prison. His father, Tony senior, watched from the back of the court as he was asked to enter his pleas. McCluskie, wearing a dark suit, pleaded not guilty to murder followed by a guilty plea to manslaughter.

Judge Gerald Gordon said this meant a trial on the issue of murder or manslaughter would go ahead on January 14 before Mr Justice Fulford.

An amnesia expert is expected to be called by the defence.

Judge Gordon was told that Miss McCluskie's body was found in London's Regent's Canal in March.

The brother of former EastEnders actress Gemma McCluskie, found dead in a canal, now accepts responsibility for killing her, the Old Bailey has heard.

Tony McCluskie, 35, will now face trial on the issue of whether her death was murder or manslaughter, a judge said.

McCluskie, who lived in Peter Street, Hackney, east London, with his 29-year-old sister, was due to face trial next month.

But the trial has been moved to January 14 next year, following the discovery of Miss McCluskie's head in the Regent's Canal near her home on September 9.

McCluskie, who appeared by videolink, was remanded in custody at the Old Bailey.

Miss McCluskie's headless and limbless body was found floating in the canal in March.

She had been missing for a week after attending the £650 million opening of the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, east London.

The brother of former EastEnders actress Gemma McCluskie, found dead in a canal, now accepts responsibility for killing her, the Old Bailey has heard.

A former EastEnders actress has admitted murdering an 86-year-old woman for jewellery, which she later sold for just £61.

Karen Williamson, who was addicted to crack cocaine, battered Jean Jobson to death in the pensioner's home in Catford in February last year.

She had denied the charge and was due to stand trial, but today she changed her plea to guilty today and was sentenced to at least 24 years in prison.

Ronke Phillips reports.

Aformer Eastenders actress, who battered an elderly widow to death for £61 worth of jewellery, has been jailed for at least 24 years.

Karen Williamson attacked 86 year old Pat Jobson with a hammer and heavy glass ornament, at her home in Downham, south-east London.

Judge Paul Worsley QC said the attack was 'sustained and brutal.'

The Court heard Williamson was high on crack cocaine at time of the murder.

She stole the victims' jewellery and later sold it at a pawn shop.

The judge said he had concluded this was a 'murder for gain' and deserved a higher minimum term.