DANISH submarine owner Peter Madsen has been charged with the murder of journalist Kim Wall, whose dismembered body parts were found in the sea near Copenhagen.

He has denied killing her but previously admitted dismembering the Swedish writer's body.

Prosecutors alleged he either cut Ms Wall's throat or strangled her, describing the case as "very unusual and extremely gross".

He was charged with murdering and dismembering Ms Wall, 30, and sexual assault without intercourse of a particularly dangerous nature, police said.

Police say he has made various claims about her death, many contradicting other stories.

He claims she died accidentally inside the sub while he was on deck during the excursion, but has admitted throwing her body parts into the sea.

The start of the trial has been set for March 8. A verdict is expected on 25 April.

Ms Wall disappeared after boarding the sub on August 10 in Copenhagen as part of research for a feature she was writing about the inventor.

The next day, Mr Madsen - an entrepreneur who once dreamed of launching a crewed space mission - was rescued from the sinking submarine without Ms Wall.

Ms Wall's dismembered torso was found on the coast in late August and her head, legs and clothes were discovered in bags at sea in October.

- Tom Batchelor, The Independent

DANISH submarine owner Peter Madsen has been charged with the murder of journalist Kim Wall, whose dismembered body parts were found in the sea near Copenhagen.

He has denied killing her but previously admitted dismembering the Swedish writer's body.

Prosecutors alleged he either cut Ms Wall's throat or strangled her, describing the case as "very unusual and extremely gross".

He was charged with murdering and dismembering Ms Wall, 30, and sexual assault without intercourse of a particularly dangerous nature, police said.

Police say he has made various claims about her death, many contradicting other stories.

He claims she died accidentally inside the sub while he was on deck during the excursion, but has admitted throwing her body parts into the sea.

The start of the trial has been set for March 8. A verdict is expected on 25 April.

Ms Wall disappeared after boarding the sub on August 10 in Copenhagen as part of research for a feature she was writing about the inventor.

The next day, Mr Madsen - an entrepreneur who once dreamed of launching a crewed space mission - was rescued from the sinking submarine without Ms Wall.

Ms Wall's dismembered torso was found on the coast in late August and her head, legs and clothes were discovered in bags at sea in October.

- Tom Batchelor, The Independent