A Jewish woman has been found murdered in a public park in Frankfurt, weeks before she was due to go on trial.

Her body was discovered by a dog-walker last Wednesday morning in the city’s Nidda park by a member of the public.

The woman, identified as Irina A, was described as being left in an almost unrecognisable condition as a result of the attack, and her jewelry and wallet were missing.

A man who was due to appear in the dock beside her has been arrested on suspicion of her murder.

German media said police had used mobile phone records to place him close to the crime scene and traces of his blood were allegedly found in the area.

Irina A, 29, was a member of the city’s Jewish community and ran real-estate and jewellery businesses. Her car was found abandoned near the park.

Police arrested a suspect, Jan M, two days later.

Last year, the two were at the centre of a story in which they claimed to have seen a group of “foreigners” raping and abusing women in Frankfurt on New Year’s Eve 2017.

In an article published by Bild, the country’s leading tabloid, Irina A claimed to have been “grabbed… under my dress, between my legs, on my breasts, everywhere.”

Jan M claimed women had asked him to help them “because they were being groped.”

However, the report was proved by the police to have been fabricated, with Irina A allegedly not even in the city at the time.

The newspaper issued a public apology and the authorities charged the pair with false reporting of a crime. The trial of the pair was due to start in June.

Police have appealed for members of the public to come forward with any information that might help their investigation.