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Page last updated at 13:46 GMT, Friday, 26 June 2009 14:46 UK

Murder suspect 'still not fit'

Ian Griffin and Kinga Legg
Police had wanted to speak to Mr Griffin since Ms Legg was found dead

A businessman suspected of murdering his millionaire girlfriend in a Paris hotel remains unfit for justice, an extradition hearing has been told.

Ian Griffin, 40, was arrested by Cheshire Police a week after Kinga Legg, 36, was found battered to death at the £1,000-a-night L'Hotel Bristol.

City of Westminster Magistrates' Court heard Warrington-born Mr Griffin remains in a prison hospital bed.

He was found by police sleeping rough in woodland in Macclesfield on 1 June.

Polish Ms Legg died from internal bleeding in the bathroom of the couple's Parisian hotel suite.

There has been no significant improvement to [Ian Griffin's] condition and he remains on the hospital wing
Ben Watson, French judiciary

A previous hearing on 10 June was adjourned when Mr Griffin was deemed to be "unfit to appear" after he refused to return to France.

French police want to extradite him to Paris where a murder investigation has been launched into Ms Legg's death.

On Friday, Ben Watson, from the French judicial authorities, said a psychiatrist would visit him on Monday and prepare a report.

He said: "Griffin did not attend court on June 10 as the Prison Service declared him unfit to travel to court.

"Since that occasion there has been no significant improvement to his condition and he remains on the hospital wing at HMP Wandsworth."

Colin Nott, representing Mr Griffin, said his client had a "history" of mental health issues and would be opposing extradition.

District Judge Daphne Wickham remanded him in custody and adjourned the case until 10 July.

The businessman ran tanning salons and gadget shops across north west England but was declared bankrupt three years ago.



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