One of two women accused of assisting an offender by disposing of a knife used in an alleged double murder has been released from custody on bail.

Naomi Toro had been remanded following the arrest of mechanic Foster Christian, 54, who is accused of killing Simon Gorecki, 47, and Natasha Sadler Ellis, 40, at a house in Dickens Avenue on the Poets Estate in Canterbury on March 29.

Toro, of Keyworth Mews on the Brymore Estate, appeared in the dock at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday with Samantha Groombridge, of Athelstan Road, Thannington.

Both Toro, 36, and pregnant Groombridge, 18, pleaded not guilty to assisting an offender by taking the knife from the scene and “impeding the prosecution of a person who committed murder”.

Prosecutor Ryan Richter opposed an application for bail made by Toro’s lawyer John Fitzgerald.

But Judge Jeremy Carey granted bail conditional on the mother-of-three living at her mother’s home in Blackberry Way, Whitstable.

She will also be subject to a tagged curfew from 7pm to 7am, have to report to Herne Bay police station, not have any contact with prosecution witnesses or co-accused and not got to Canterbury.

Groombridge has been bailed to an address in Downs Road, Canterbury, and non-contact with her co-accused and prosecution witnesses.

She and Toro will next appear in court with Christian, who lived in the same house as Mr Gorecki in Dickens Avenue, on June 10 for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

Christian is also charged with wounding with intent Ms Sadler Ellis’s 20-year-old son Connaugh Harris and a 16-year-old boy who cannot be identified for legal reasons.

James Scobie QC, for Christian who was not present, said a submission would be made for the trial - expected to be in October - to be moved to London’s Old Bailey.

Mr Scobie said there was concern Christian would not get a fair trial in Kent.

Judge Carey said the case was likely to be tried by a High Court judge and a change of venue might be more appropriate.