In a country that thrives on conspiracy theories, the death of Roberto Calvi had all the required elements.

A high-flying financier with close connections to the Vatican bank, he fled to England after the private bank he chaired, the Banco Ambrosiano, collapsed with spectacular losses and he faced lengthy jail terms.

He was a member of the outlawed P-2 Masonic Lodge and a close associate of Michele Sindona, a Sicilian banker allegedly linked to the mafia.

Mr Calvi's body was found hanging from Blackfriars Bridge in London early one morning with bricks in his pockets.

The first inquest, giving a verdict of suicide, caused an uproar in Italy, where speculation abounded that he had been murdered.

Rome magistrates asked to have Mr Calvi's body exhumed after the defence lawyers of a Roman businessman accused of the murder, along with a mafia boss, tabled the initial medical reports as evidence.

The defence says these reports show clearly that Mr Calvi hung himself.

Magistrates say that forensic tests to date do not unequivocally show that Mr Calvi was conscious at the time of his hanging.

That means he could have been killed elsewhere and then brought to the bridge.

New tests on his remains will be carried out by three specialists - an anthropologist, a coroner and an expert in poisons.