Police investigating murder of woman find body in River Thames

The Metropolitan Police confirms a body had been recovered in Thamesmead, southeast London

Suma Begum, 24, was reported missing from an address in Orchard Place, Tower Hamlets, on 30 April (Met Police)

Police investigating the murder of a woman who went missing from her east London home have recovered a body from the River Thames.

Suma Begum, 24, was reported missing from an address in Orchard Place, Tower Hamlets, on 30 April. Her husband, Aminan Rahman, 45, has been charged with murder.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed a body had been recovered in Thamesmead, southeast London, following a call from a member of the public shortly after 10am on Wednesday.

Formal identification is yet to take place but Ms Begum’s family has been informed, the Met said.

A post-mortem examination will take place in due course.

Mr Rahman appeared at the Old Bailey via video link from HMP Pentionville for a preliminary hearing on 9 May.

Prosecutors allege that he killed his wife at their home in Tower Hamlet.

They say he then removed her body in a large suitcase before putting it in the nearby River Lea, the easternmost major tributary of the Thames.

Tom Broomfield, for the crown, said: "It is alleged that he either killed or incapacitated Ms Begum, placed her or her body in a suitcase which he then dumped into the River Lea, part of the River Thames.

"The river has been searched but there is no sign of that suitcase.

"Because of the tidal nature of the Thames, it is not thought the suitcase of Ms Begum will be found until effectively the suitcase appears on the river bank."

Mr Rahman was assisted by a Bengali interpreter and spoke only to confirm his identity.

Judge Nigel Lickley KC set a plea hearing for 25 July and remanded the defendant in custody.