A court has heard claims that a transgender woman was beaten to death by her bodybuilder husband.

Miami-born trans woman Vanessa Santillan, who worked as an escort, was found dead by police in a London flat in March – with a post-mortem showing that trauma to the head and neck was the cause of the death.

The Old Bailey this week heard claims that Ms Santillan, 33, was beaten to death by her husband Joaquin Gomez-Hernandez – the same day he walked in on her having sex with a client in their flat.

According to the Daily Mail, Gomez-Hernandez walked in on his wife having sex with a client in the early hours of March 28, after the couple had been out clubbing together with friends.

He told police that later the same day, he left his wife in bed to go shopping – but she wife failed to answer the door when he returned in the evening.

Gomez-Hernandez broke into the flat with a group of friends, who found Ms Santillan lying dead.

After he called 999 and flagged down an ambulance, Gomez-Hernandez was arrested on suspicion of murder by police.

Prosecutor Brendan Finucane QC said: “Although there is evidence they were loving towards each other, there is some evidence of discord.”

Gomez-Hernandez, from Fulham, denies murder.

The trial continues.

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