3:14pm UK, Friday May 20, 2005

An Italian banker found hanged under London's Blackfriars Bridge was murdered, say police.

Detectives from City of London Police reached the conclusion after re-examining the death of Roberto Calvi.

57 Roberto Calvi 'God's Banker' dead bridge

Italian banker Roberto Calvi

Calvi, who was known as "God's Banker", because of his links to the Vatican, was found under the bridge in 1982.

He had bricks in his pockets and was initially thought to have killed himself.

Police have now decided he was probably strangled by two or more people and hung from scaffolding.

A spokesman said: "There is a crime report for murder relating to the death of Robert Calvi."

Italian authorities charged four people with Calvi's murder in April.

Their trial is due to start in October when London police officers are likely to give evidence.

A first inquest into the banker's death had recorded a verdict of suicide.

This was later overturned to an open verdict and in 2002 a panel of forensic experts ruled he had been killed.