The brother of British actress Gemma Mccluskie has been sentenced to life in jail for murdering her and dumping her dismembered body in a canal.

Tony MCCluskie, 36, killed his sister in February last year (12) in a bust-up at their home after she asked him to leave over his habitual cannabis smoking.

He then hacked off her head and limbs, stuffed her torso in a suitcase and dumped the entire body in London's Regent's Canal.

Gemma MCCluskie, who had a role on hit British soap opera EastEnders in 2000 and 2001, was declared missing but her murder was discovered when the body parts were found the following month (Mar12).

MCCluskie had denied murder but admitted manslaughter, claiming he had no memory of the day of his sister's death. He was found guilty by a jury at London's Old Bailey on Wednesday (30Jan13) and sentenced to life in prison.