Pic: Metropolitan Police Service

The brother of Gemma McCluskie has admitted responsibility for killing her and dumping her body in Regent’s Canal before the Old Bailey.

Tony McCluskie, 35, is charged with murdering the former EastEnders actress and dumping her body in a canal, but has so far entered no plea.

His barrister, Jeremy Dein QC, said his client accepted responsibility for the death of his sister and that the defence would be one of “loss of control.”

Gemma, 29, went missing on March the first just hours after attending the opening ceremony of the new Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel.

Friends and family of the actress staged a house-t0-house search across Bethnal Green in March after she went missing on the first of that month.

A headless torso discovered in Regent’s Canal was identified as hers on March 9, followed over the next few months by her legs and arms. Her head was found and identified using dental records earlier this month.

The court heard that the trial, set for January next year, will likely focus on whether Tony is guilty of murder or manslaughter.

McCluskie appeared by video link from prison, speaking only to confirm his name during a brief hearing.

Gemma appeared as character Kerry Skinner in over 30 episodes of the soap, alongside co-stars Natalie Cassidy and Brooke Kinsella.

A trial date is set for January 14.