A MEDICAL expert told a jury that a murder suspect's claim to have dissolved his victim's body in caustic soda was "implausible."

Prof Susan Margaret Black, a professor of forensic anthropology, also said it was "impossible" that the body had been cut into pieces small enough to fit in four shopping bags, the court heard.

Her statement was read to court the day after the jury heard what Muhammed Arshad, 37, had told police he had done to his mother-in-law, Zainab Begum, 56, of Burnley Road, Accrington.

Arshad, of Crumpsall, Manchester, denies murder. The court heard that he said in an interview with police that Mrs Begum hit her head and died when he threw the mum-of-six across her bedroom on January 13 this year after she made a pass at him.

The jury heard that he became scared and cut up her body with a cleaver and tried to dissolve it in mainly caustic soda, but also bleach and vinegar.

Then, Arshad added, he put her remains in four carrier bags and dumped them in industrial bins of takeaways in Manchester, the court was told.

But Prof Black, of Dundee University, said: "Muhammed Arshad says he used caustic soda, bleach and vinegar to 'melt or disintegrate the body.'

"Bleach and caustic soda are alkaline substances, where vinegar is acidic.

"By mixing two types there will have been some element of cancelling out.

"In my opinion it is implausible for domestic caustic soda, bleach and vinegar to reduce human remains in the time required by Muhammed Arshad. To say only bones would be left, it is, in my opinion, implausible.

"That would require industrial-strength caustic soda over time and with heat.

"In my opinion it is impossible to reduce human remains into small enough pieces to fit into small shopping bags."

Arshad's brother, Mohammed Sharif Khan, 37, also of Crumpsall, is also standing trial accused of helping to dispose of the body, a charge he denies.

(Proceeding)