The boyfriend of a mother-of-three whose body was found dumped in a canal on Christmas Day last year will begin his trial for murder this morning.

Manzar Juma, 28, of Hexham Gardens, Northolt, is accused of killing his girlfriend, 23-year-old Ruby Love, who went missing on Christmas Eve 2011 and was found dead in the Grand Union Canal at Bankside, Southall, a day later.

Ruby, who wanted to be a forensic scientist as a child and worked in her family’s letting business, gave birth to a baby a month before her death and also had a two-year-old with Mr Juma, as well as a nine-year-old child from a previous relationship.

The former Hatch End High School pupil’s mother Precious and sister Sarah told the Harrow Times how they had lost their “angel” in the days after her death from their home in The Meadow Way.

Juma, who denies murder, was charged on December 29. He will appear at the Old Bailey this morning for the start of the trial.