Tetra Pak Heir's Wife 'Found In Bin Bags'

Hans Kristian Rausing has been granted conditional bail after he appeared in court charged with preventing the lawful and decent burial of his wife, Eva.

The body of the millionairess was found at their home in bin bags sealed up with gaffer tape, West London Magistrates' Court has been told.

The court heard that Mrs Rausing's remains were discovered beside a bed, covered in layers of clothes in an annexe of the couple's Belgravia mansion in the capital.

The bedroom where her body was found had also been sealed with gaffer tape, the court was told.

A warrant was issued to search the address after Rausing was stopped by police on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Police are treating the death as "unexplained" after an initial post-mortem examination proved inconclusive.

Rausing, 49, who appeared frail and with a beard, spoke only to confirm his name, age and address. He will appear again at Isleworth Crown Court on July 26.

District Judge James Henderson told him: "I grant you bail on two conditions. The first is that you must reside at the Capio Nightingale Hospital and that you live there and sleep there overnight, and you do not leave that hospital unless you are accompanied by a member of hospital staff."

Alexander Cameron QC, the older brother of Prime Minister David Cameron, represented Rausing in court.

His family issued a statement in which they said they hoped Mrs Rausing's death would raise awareness of the "distorted reality" caused by addiction.

"Hans and Märit Rausing and their families are mourning the death of their son's beloved wife, Eva," the statement said.

"Her death, and the details of subsequent events, are a reminder of the distorted reality of drug addiction.

"They desperately hope that their dear son, Hans, may find the strength to begin the long and hard journey of de-toxification and rehabilitation."

Mrs Rausing's father earlier issued a tribute to his daughter in which he said she had recently travelled to the UK from California to try to take her husband back with her for drugs treatment.

Tom Kemeny wrote: "At the time of her death her overriding concern was for the safety of her beloved husband, for whom she interrupted her own treatment to return to London in an attempt to take him back with her to California, but tragically to no avail.

"Eva and Hans Kristian were a devoted and loving couple for the 21 years they spent together.

"They benefited thousands of lives through their personal involvement and philanthropic activities.

"They bravely battled their demons and supported each other and Eva will be a devastating loss to our beloved 'son' Hans Kristian, whom we love unconditionally with all our hearts."

The couple's problems with drugs have been widely documented in the press over the years.

Mrs Rausing's family have said they hope her death will raise awareness of drug addiction and financial support for those blighted by it.

"Eva would have wanted the memory of her life to be used to benefit others facing similar addiction challenges in their lives," they said, adding that a foundation would be launched in due course.