A Russian professor was dressed as Napoleon when he drunkenly fell into a river with his lover's severed arms in his backpack, according to reports.
Oleg Sokolov, 63, has confessed to killing his 24-year-old girlfriend Anastasia Yeschenko and then cutting up her body, it is claimed.
Ms Yeschenko's head and body were found at her teacher's flat after Sokolov fell into a river while trying to dump her remains.
The historical re-enactor reportedly intended to kill himself while dressed as Napoleon after disposing of her body.
It is said the teacher accidentally killed his student after they got into an argument.
He is now in hospital suffering from hypothermia after being dragged out of St Petersburg's Moyka River on Saturday morning.
In his backpack were two female arms severed at the elbow and a gun.
The St Petersburg State University lecturer is renowned for being an expert on the Napoleonic wars, although he was also known for his alcoholism and mood swings, the Mail Online reports.
A saw covered in blood was also found at the professor's flat in St Petersburg.
A criminal case for murder has been opened, say law enforcement sources.
Sokolov was president of the Russian Association of Military History and is now a member of the body’s scientific council.
He has worked as a technical adviser to European television broadcasters on films depicting the Napoleonic era, and he was made a knight of the Legion of Honour in France in 2003.
