A BANKER faked being sad during a police interview after murdering an escort, says a body language expert.

Zahid Naseem bludgeoned Christina Abbotts to death at her apartment in Crawley in May 2018.

The high-rolling financier struck Christina 13 times to the back of the head with the ceramic kitchen utensil on her 29th birthday – after paying her for sex.

During police interviews, Naseem, 50, insisted he could not recall what happened on the night of the murder.

The Argus: Zahid Naseem during police interview Zahid Naseem during police interview

However, the footage was analysed by body language, linguistics and forensic psychology experts on Discovery Channel’s Faking It.

According to Dr Cliff Lansley, a head shake, eye flickers and his posture helped investigators realise Naseem did in fact know more than he was letting on.

"The claim he doesn't know is being contradicted by a single-sided shoulder shrug,” he said analysing the police interview footage.

"This is subconscious, it's not intended for you to see."

The Argus: Christina Abbotts Christina Abbotts

The body language expert said Naseem attempted to show an “attempt at sadness" to get police on his side.

“When the brows raise and the mouth arches, it creates a signal of sadness,” he said. "But when you want to pose sadness, you can create the same arch and pretend you're sad to get pity and some mercy when you're in the wrong by jutting your chin and pursing your lip.

"If you ask a child to pose sadness, they do what we call a sulk, and this is what he's doing.”

Naseem, a freelance investment consultant who could earn up to £250,000 in a year, was captured sitting with his arms folded and his head down, before later resting his head on his hand and turning away from officers.

When asked by officers how Christina sustained her injuries, Naseem said: "I just don't know, that's why I'm shocked."

The Argus: Christina Abbotts with her killer Zahid Naseem Christina Abbotts with her killer Zahid Naseem

At trial, it was revealed that Christina, originally from the West Midlands, is thought to have been dead for 12 hours before she was discovered after she failed to turn up to her own birthday party.

She had met Naseem several times in her secret life as a high-end escort, the court also heard.

Naseem was said to have paid Christina up to £3,500 each time they met.

He was jailed for life with a minimum of 19 years.