Eggheads star CJ de Mooi appeared in court yesterday over alleged killing

The former panellist was arrested on Wednesday

CJ de Mooi on Eggheads

by Francesca Battson |
Published on

Joseph Connagh – known as CJ de Mooi – who is mostly known for being a panellist on BBC quiz show Eggheads, was arrested at Heathrow Airport on 21 September according to Scotland Yard.

The warrant for his arrest was issued in May by Dutch authorities, who are requesting “further questioning”.

Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard the warrant related to allegations of manslaughter, murder, assault and battery in Amsterdam in 1988.

Prosecutor Brian Gibbins revealed Connagh has written an autobiography in which he claims he may have killed a man.

"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,” Gibbins said.

"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."

Connagh’s representative Chris Stevens said there was a “lot of missing information” in the warrant like a name victim or a location of the incident.

He also said Dutch authorities have based “something that might have happened” on that which “could arguably be self-defence”.

Magistrates gave Connagh bail on the condition he doesn’t travel overseas, sleeps at his home address every night and keeps a charged mobile phone on him at all times.

He has been ordered to attend a further hearing in November to find out whether he will be extradited to the Netherlands.

In his autobiography, which was published last year, Connagh describes an incident when in Amsterdam in 1988.

He wrote: “I was in a phone box and this old guy, obviously a massive drug user, came up behind me with a knife in his hand.

"He told me to turn around, open my bag and give him whatever was inside.

"I punched him so hard in the face, knocked the knife out of his hand and threw him in the canal.

"I fully suspect I killed him. I’ve no idea what happened to him.”

Connagh also wrote that it was “the one incident of my life I do regret … one of the main reasons why I abhor all violence”.

We will bring you more on this story as it develops.

Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us