Eggheads star CJ de Mooi may sue for ‘enormous damage’ caused by failed arrest warrant over alleged murder of junkie drifter in Amsterdam

EGGHEAD CJ de Mooi is considering legal action after an arrest warrant for an alleged murder was withdrawn.

The quiz show boffin sparked a police probe after saying in his 2015 autobiography he may have killed a man in 1988 while sleeping rough in Amsterdam.

CJ, 46, whose real name is Joseph Connagh, was accused of murder, manslaughter, assault and battery.

His spokesman said Dutch authorities withdrew the European Arrest Warrant for the former quiz show boffin on Thursday.

Now the former model hopes to repair the "enormous damage" caused, the spokesman added.

A statement issued on his behalf said: "The Dutch prosecutor Ms Hoekstra has today withdrawn the European Arrest Warrant that was incorrectly issued against CJ in May of this year, that related to an alleged incident in Amsterdam almost 30 years ago.

"CJ is obviously pleased but not surprised at this outcome and will now be exploring his legal options going forward and examining the processes undertaken that resulted in this warrant being issued at all.

"CJ is now keen to start to repair the enormous damage sustained to his reputation as a result of the issuing of this warrant and the headlines subsequently generated."

CJ was was arrested under a European arrest warrant by Dutch Police at Heathrow Airport in September.

It comes after the quiz show star, who was one of five regular panellists on the popular BBC show, admitted he may have killed a mugger in Holland two decades ago.

In an extract from his autobiography, De Mooi said he punched the mugger, who approached him with a knife, before throwing him in the canal.

He wrote: "He caught me on the wrong day and I just snapped.

"I fully suspect I killed him. I've no idea what happened to him."

CJ, who lives in Monmouthshire, described it as "the one incident in my life I do regret" and "the only outburst of violence I've ever done".

The quiz master appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court in September, where he said he would fight extradition to the Netherlands.

He wore grey tracksuit bottoms, a green t-shirt and a hoodie and is believed to have entered the court through a back entrance straight from police custody.

The brainiac, who lives with his husband in Caldicot, Wales, was released on bail to appear at court on November 28 for an extradition hearing.

But in October Dutch officials abandoned efforts to extradite the Eggheads star after it emerged the warrant should never have been issued and that basic errors had been made.

It was the second time the 46-year-old has faced charges throughout his showbiz career.

Earlier this year CJ was probed by police on suspicion of sexually assaulting a 23-year-old man.

He said he was barred from appearing on Eggheads while police probed the incident.

CJ denied the claims and was never charged.

The former president of the English Chess Federation grew up in a violent, racist and homophobic household in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, before running away in 1987.

He worked as a prostitute in London throughout his late teens before moving to Amsterdam, where he lived on the streets.

CJ was eventually spotted by a model scout and found a successful career that turned his life around.

He adopted the name CJ when modelling, as it translates as "handsome" in Dutch.

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