Police renew appeals for Arab playboy to come forward as they reveal socialite was strangled

Pathology tests revealed the 23-year-old Norweigan student died of "compression to the neck".

Police also renewed appeals to trace Farouk Abdulhak, 21, a fellow student and the son of Arab billionaire Shaher Abdulhak, who fled to Yemen following the murder last month.

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Miss Magnussen's body was found partially buried under rubble in the basement of a flat rented by Mr Abdulhak and two friends in Great Portland Street, West London.

The pair were part of a party-loving group of friends attending the £10,000-a-year Regent's College private university in Central London.

On March 13, they arrived at Maddox, a members-only club popular with stars such as Madonna and Keira Knightley.

At around 3am, they left the club together and got into a waiting taxi. Police say it was the last time Miss Magnussen was seen alive.

Certain items, including her snakeskin shoes and Marc Jacobs handbag, had been taken from her body and are still missing.

Abdulhak is now known to have flown to Cairo, Egypt, before travelling on to his native Yemen on the afternoon of March 14.

Speaking through his lawyer in Yemen, Mr Abdulhak, who is believed to be living in his father's £3million mansion in the Yemeni capital Sana'a, said he was "not happy" about being branded a criminal and insisted he was not an "escapee".

He also claimed he would be happy to see UK detectives there. Yemen does not have an extradition agreement with Britain.

Abdulhak's father is international businessman Shaher Abdulhak who founded Shaher Trading and whose empire includes petroleum, soft drinks, tourism and property.

The billionaire family have said they would disown him if he was responsible for the murder.

Detective Chief Inspector Jessica Wadsworth, who is leading the investigation, said: "Over the last month the investigation has concentrated on piecing together Martine's final movements and the circumstance of her murder.

"We have maintained a very close relationship with Martine's family in Norway who understandably are finding it hard to come to terms with her loss."

Martine's funeral will take place next Wednesday, in Oslo, Norway.

Her father Odd Petter Magnussen said: "Martine was a hard working and intelligent girl - yet with a down to earth attitude and behaviour.

"The night she died she was celebrating end of term with the best results of her class.

"Martine loved life and her family, and with her kind and charismatic personality she brought light into everyday life of so many.

"It is hard to get to terms with the fact that she was taken away from us - and in this way.

"The loss of our beloved daughter and sister has turned life upside down not only for us, but for the rest of the family and many friends now struggling to see the meaning of life."

Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8358 0300 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.