A 46-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to a murdering his girlfriend 6,000 miles away in Peru.

Jorge Garay, 46, of Hythe Street, Dartford, appeared at Maidstone Crown Court this morning.

He will now go on trial on April 3 and it is expected to last up to four weeks.

Garay was arrested in London at the weekend and is now remanded to Elmley Prison.

His barrister Oliver Kirk said no application was being made for bail.

The prison link went down before the end of the 20 minute hearing.

Speaking through a Spanish interpreter, the cleaner spoke to confirm his name and enter his plea.

He was asked by the clerk whether he pleaded guilty or not guilty and replied in Spanish: "No culpable" (not guilty).

Judge Julian Smith said the case was "somewhat unusual" as the allegation involved a death in Peru.

Prosecutor Philip Bennetts KC said the charge was brought because the couple resided in Kent and the hearing was brought under the Domestic Abuse Act 2020

Garay is alleged to have killed his 36-year-old lover Karla Godoy in Lima, Peru, between Wednesday, September 21, and Sunday, October 2.

Her body was discovered wrapped in blue plastic sheeting and buried in a shallow grave in the South American capital.

The couple lived together in Dartford and worked at Ebbsfleet lorry park.

Officers are continuing to work closely with the Peruvian authorities as part of the ongoing investigation and witnesses are expect to give evidence via TV link.