Son of London academics held over rainforest murder

THE SON of two London-based academics has been arrested for allegedly murdering a female Czech student in a "drug-fuelled sex attack" in a remote rainforest area of Costa Rica.

Alfred Alexandros Mill Saunders, 20, was detained in custody after Alexandra Drbohlavova, a 22-year-old from Prague who was volunteering on an 'eco-farm', suffered 15 stab wounds to her face, neck and chest.

According to the Daily Mail, Saunders was living in a mews house in Notting Hill with his mother Dr Catia Galatariotou, an expert on the sexual development of children, before he left London to go travelling. His father Max Saunders, is an English professor at King's College London, and lives in Hampstead.

David Leibel, Dr Galatariotou's former husband, heard of Saunders's arrest last night and said he was "very, very shocked" according to The Daily Telegraph. Neither of Saunders's parents has spoken to the media.

The British owner of the Finca La Libertad organic farm reportedly heard screams last Wednesday night and spotted Saunders leaving the victim's tent covered in blood. He tied him up until the police arrived and took him to the regional capital of Aguas Claras de Upala.

A local police chief claimed yesterday that Saunders was already on an Interpol wanted list, for offences including a sex attack and use of firearms and explosives. He added that records indicated the young Briton suffered bouts of schizophrenia.

Local news reports claim that Saunders was high on drugs at the time of the killing, after turning up unannounced at the farm the previous day with barely any possessions. Several witnesses reportedly told police that he had been harassing female volunteers on the farm.

It is unclear how long Saunders had been travelling but police said his passport had stamps from China and Mexico. ·