Transsexual's death treated as murder

The death of a transsexual whose body was found weighed down with body-building weights on a Suffolk beach is being treated as murder, police have said.

Christine Chappel's naked body was found near Kessingland Beach near Lowestoft on 2 March.

Detectives originally thought the 28-year-old victim, from Roxwell, near Chelmsford, Essex, may have drowned, but a post mortem has revealed unexplained head injuries.

Ms Chappel, formerly known as Bryan Hooley, underwent a sex-change operation in 1994.

A Suffolk police spokesman said they had been treating the death as suspicious pending the outcome of further tests.

"Now these tests have revealed Christine Chappel was murdered," he said.

Ms Chappel was last seen at her home in St Michael's Drive, Roxwell, by her ex-wife on February 22.

She was divorced and had a daughter.

Neighbours said she had been depressed in the weeks leading up to her death.

Police released pictures of the weights and chains found wrapped around Miss Chappel's naked body in an appeal for witnesses to come forward.

Ms Chappel is believed to have been born in Perth, Australia, and studied electronic engineering at Salford University before moving to Essex.