Trial for body exhibits accused

Millions have visited the exhibition around the world

A man accused of carrying out a hammer attack on a human corpse in an art gallery has been committed to stand trial at crown court.

On Tuesday, Geoffrey Lee, 51, of Dove Road, Dalston, London, pleaded not guilty to criminal damage on 26 March 2002.

He is alleged to have attacked one of the exhibits at the show, entitled "Body Worlds", which features 25 human bodies preserved with plastic.

The exhibition, at The Atlantis Gallery in Brick Lane, London, is the creation of a German professor of anatomy.

Thames Magistrates' Court in London adjourned the case for trial at crown court on 26 July.

'Democratise anatomy'

The controversial exhibition featured 175 body parts and 25 corpses in various poses and attracted thousands of visitors.

The human remains were all been donated by volunteers and are preserved by a process called plastination - which costs up to £35,000 for each body, say organisers.

When creator Professor Gunther von Hagens announced his intention to bring the exhibition to the UK, some MPs declared their disgust and the government said it would check whether it contravened any laws.

But the Department of Health said no British law covers such an exhibition and it opened as planned.

Professor von Hagens has denied the exhibition is sensationalist or degrading, saying he wants to "democratise anatomy" and let people see things only professionals had been able to view before.