Former Eggheads star CJ De Mooi appears in court over alleged killing

EGGHEADS star CJ de Mooi has appeared in court over an alleged killing which he apparently confessed to in his autobiography.

The former panellist on the BBC quiz show, who appeared in court under his real name Joseph Connagh, could face extradition to the Netherlands for allegations of murder, manslaughter and assault more than 20 years ago.

He said in his autobiography that he punched a man who approached him with a knife, then threw him into a canal in Amsterdam in 1988.

The 46-year-old was detained under a European arrest warrant on Wednesday at Heathrow Airport, after landing at Terminal 3 from a business trip in South Africa.

He appeared in the dock at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, wearing grey tracksuit bottoms, green t-shirt and a hoodie.

De Mooi, who lives with his husband in Caldicot, Wales, is opposing his extradition and was released on bail to appear at the court  on November 28 for an extradition hearing.

Prosecutor Brian Gibbins said: “The defendant appears before you today on a European arrest warrant issued by a Danish prosecutor in Amsterdam.”

He added: “This is an allegation relating to matters of manslaughter, murder, assault and assault by battery.

“It relates to an incident said to have taken place in 1988 in Amsterdam.

“It appears the defendant, a TV personality, wrote an autobiography. And in that autobiography it said that the defendant claimed that whilst living in Amsterdam in 1988 he may have killed a drug addict who was attempting to mug him by punching him and throwing him into a canal in Amsterdam.

“It is understood that person had a knife with him, it was said that the defendant punched his assailant square in the face, disarmed him and threw him in the canal.

“On the face of the warrant he is wanted for further questions.”