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Tetra Pak Heir Charged After Wife's Death

Tetra Pak Heir Charged After Wife's Death

The husband of dead millionairess Eva Rausing has been charged with preventing the lawful and decent burial of her body.

Mrs Rausing's body was found in the couple's home last week after her husband - Tetra Pak heir Hans Kristian Rausing - was stopped by police on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Mr Rausing will appear in court later.

A warrant was issued to search the couple’s home, where the body of one of Britain's richest women was discovered in a bedroom of their Cadogan Place mansion in Belgravia, London.

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

An inquest into the mother-of-four's death opened on Friday, and Mr Rausing, 49, will appear at West London Magistrates' Court this morning.

Mrs Rausing's father has issued a tribute to his daughter in which he says 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.

In 2008 the couple were in trouble with the police over drugs but the prosecution was formally discontinued.

Quantities of heroin and crack cocaine were found at their home after Mrs Rausing was caught attempting to take a small amount of cocaine into a function at London's US Embassy.

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.

"In due course they will launch a foundation."