MILLIONAIRE Hans Rausing appeared in court yesterday charged with preventing the lawful and decent burial of his wife Eva, whose body was found underneath several layers of clothing and bin bags at their luxury home.
Rausing, who looked frail in the dock at West London Magistrates' Court, was granted conditional bail to appear again at Isleworth Crown Court on July 26.
Police found the body of mother-of-four Mrs Rausing in an advanced state of decomposition after they arrested her husband – heir to the Tetra Pak millions – on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs last Monday.
Mrs Rausing, one of Britain's richest women, was found beside a bed in an annexe on the second floor of the property in Cadogan Place in London's Chelsea, which she shared with her 49-year-old husband.
Bearded and bespectacled, Rausing spoke only to confirm his name, age and address in court.
Rausing, whose family made a fortune when they sold the Tetra Pak drinks carton business in the 1990s, was wearing a dark suit and light blue shirt with no tie.
District Judge James Henderson granted bail on condition that he stayed at the Capio Nightingale psychiatric hospital, and that he would not leave unless he was accompanied by a member of staff.
Rausing was represented by Alexander Cameron, QC, the older brother of Prime Minister David Cameron.
In a statement issued after the hearing, Rausing's parents said: "Hans and Marit Rausing and their families are mourning the death of their son's beloved wife, Eva.
"Her death, and 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 rehabilitation."
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