Man to face crown court charged with murder of two women more than 30 years ago

A 66-year-old man is to appear at crown court accused of murdering two women in Kent more than three decades ago.

David Fuller, from Heathfield, East Sussex, has been charged with the killing of Wendy Knell and Caroline Pierce in 1987.

He appeared at Medway Magistrates' Court on Saturday wearing a grey jumper, white T-shirt and grey trousers.

Fuller spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth during a hearing lasting less than five minutes.

He did not enter pleas to the charges as he stood in the dock.

He is being held in custody and is due to appear at Maidstone Crown Court on Tuesday.

Shop manager Ms Knell, 25, was found sexually assaulted and beaten to death in her ground-floor bedsit in Guildford Road, Tunbridge Wells, on 23 June 1987, after failing to turn up for work.

Ms Pierce, 20, also from Tunbridge Wells, was attacked five months later outside her home in Grosvenor Park.

She had last been seen at about midnight on 24 November when she was dropped off by a taxi at her address.

Screams were heard outside the house and her body was later found by a farm worker in a drainage ditch 40 miles away on Romney Marsh on 15 December.

Ms Pierce had been strangled and suffered a head injury, the court heard.

Assistant Chief Constable Tracey Harman, of Kent Police, said: "Whilst more than three decades have passed since these murders took place, I would urge anyone who has any information, no matter how minor or insignificant it may appear to be, to contact us."