The tragic of actress Gemma McCluskie rocked the UK when her mutilated remains were discovered in 's Regents Canal.

Just 29 years old at the time of her death in 2012, Gemma's body had been hacked into six pieces after her attacker bashed her over the head at least twice. Gemma had disappeared from her home in East London a few days before her dismembered body was discovered.

Best known for playing Kerry Skinner in soap EastEnders, Gemma was living with her brother Tony at their shared flat, and had last been seen entering a kebab shop around 8pm on March 1st, 2012. When she disappeared, search parties were sent out to try and locate the actress - but by March 6th a headless torso was found in the canal.

Days later, her brother Tony - 35 at the time - was charged with her murder. At trial at London's Old Bailey, the prosecution said he killed Gemma after she lost patience with him, asking him to leave their shared Shoreditch flat after he left taps running, causing a sink to overflow.

Tony was a window cleaner who was "hopelessly addicted" to skunk cannabis, and claimed he lost control during an argument with his sister and had "no memory" of killing her. He admitted to manslaughter but denied murder - but was found guilty of murder by a majority verdict of 11-1.

After chopping up Gemma's body, he stuffed her into a suitcase, dragging it towards a local cab firm and later towards the canal. Her limbs had been found wrapped in black plastic bags, and her head wasn't found until six months later.

Tony attempted to deceive authorities after the murder, continuing to send texts to his sister's phone and even joining in the search efforts to find her. He reported her missing to the police.

The siblings' father Anthony McCluskie said at the time: "I know that my son, Tony Junior, is suffering too. I will not desert him even though he has committed this terrible crime and taken Gemma's life. I hope and pray that one day Tony will be released from prison with a better understanding of his actions."

But Anthony later disowned his son, explaining in 2017: "He's not showing no remorse, not an ounce of remorse. He doesn't mention her name. I'm trying to support and look after him, but he's not showing no remorse - and that was it. In the end I went: 'I've had enough, Tony.'"

Tony was jailed for life with a minimum term of 20 years after the conviction. London's Chief Crown Prosecutor Alison Saunders said at the time: "This was an extremely distressing and violent case. McCluskie used all means possible to divert suspicion away from himself, giving false hope to family and friends."

He showed no emotion as he was sentenced, initially heading to London's Belmarsh Prison before being transferred to Lowdham Grange Prison in Nottingham following a "series of threats" made against him.

In 2013, Tony was found hanging from a bunk bed in his cell at Belmarsh by guards doing their rounds. They managed to save him and he was quickly taken to hospital to recover.