A couple who deny killing a French nanny have admitted perverting the course of justice by attempting to dispose of her body by burning it.

The charred remains of Sophie Lionnet, 21, were discovered in the garden at a house in Southfields, south-west London, on September 20 last year.

At first police were unable to identify the body but later confirmed it was that of Ms Lionnet, of Wandsworth, who was originally from Troyes in north-east France.

Southfields murder case
Police at the scene in Southfields, southwest London, after a badly burned body was found in a garden (Ryan Hooper/PA)

Designer Sabrina Kouider, 34, and her partner Ouissem Medouni, 40, of Wimbledon Park Road, Wandsworth, south London, deny murdering Ms Lionnet on or before September 20 last year.

They pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey on Friday to a second charge of perverting the course of justice by attempting to “dispose of the body of Sophie Lionnet by burning”.

Wearing a white shirt and black blazer Kouider appeared tearful as she sat in the dock.

She was helped to follow the hearing by a French interpreter.

Her partner, dressed in a burgundy sweatshirt, paused for a short time before entering a guilty plea to perverting the course of justice.

The defendants face a five-week trial starting on March 19 this year.