A medical student has been charged with murder after the dismembered body of Andreas Hinz, the missing Finchley student rabbi, was found in a rubbish bag.

Andy, 37, was last seen alive leaving The Black Cap gay pub at 2am in Camden on July 3.

His torso was found a week later when police were alerted to a strong smell coming from a black plastic bag on a pavement in St Pancras Way, Camden.

An environmental health officer was called to the scene and confirmed they were human remains. Following a thorough search of the area, the rest of Andy's body was found in six parts in bins in the gardens of nearby flats.

Born in Germany, Andy only discovered he was Jewish in later life and came to Britain two years ago to train to be a rabbi at the Leo Baeck College in East End Road, Finchley. He lived with fellow rabbinic students in Windermere Avenue, Finchley.

According to friends, before his death Andy often said that moving to England was the best decision he had ever made.

His mother Barbara Hinz, 62, has returned home to Ulm, Germany, after flying to London last week to appeal for help finding her son.

His body was formally identified by a fellow student on Friday last week and a post-mortem gave the cause of death as asphyxiation.

Leo Baeck College's vice-principal, Rabbi Dr Michael Shire, said: "The death in such brutal and shocking circumstances of a gentle, kind and considerate individual is deeply painful to his fellow students and teachers who have sent their sincerest sympathies to his mother in Germany. We grieve for her and for Andy's suffering.

- Thomas McDowell, 24, from Camden, appeared at Horseferry Magistrates Court on Monday, charged with murder and was remanded in custody until Monday.

A 27-year-old man from Kingston and an 18-year-old woman were also charged but released on police bail.

July 17, 2002 15:00