Accused double murderer Foster Christian made his first court appearance before magistrates in Chatham this morning.

The 53-year-old mechanic appeared via videolink in a hearing which lasted less than five minutes before the two-magistrate bench formally transferred the case to the Crown Court at Maidstone.

Dressed in a grey sweatshirt and sitting before a video camera in a room at Canterbury police station, Christian stated his name and date of birth.

He gave his home address as 5 Dickens Avenue, Canterbury – the scene of the alleged offences.

Prosecutor James Nichols told those assembled in the windowless courtroom that Christian had been charged with murdering Natasha Sadler and Simon Gorecki and causing grievous bodily harm to a man aged 20 and a 16-year-old boy.

Mr Nichols added that the seriousness of the alleged offences meant that Christian would be transferred immediately to the higher court.

Christian was told he would be remanded in custody.

As the hearing concluded, he nodded and said: “Thank you.”

He is due to appear at Maidstone Crown Court on Tuesday, April 5, for a preliminary hearing.