The victim of a murder probe was found dead by her landlady prompting a large police response.

Officers found Kelly Price in a home on Richmond Road, Gillingham.

Benjamin Bowler has since appeared at Maidstone Crown Court after being charged with the murder of the 39-year-old.

The pair were known to each other and thought to be partners. The factory worker, who was born in Germany, had last been seen alive at 1pm on Thursday, January 16, by a neighbour.

Later on, at 5.07pm, the landlady of the property on the junction with Saunders Street, let herself in with the spare key.

Kelly was found on the bed not breathing. She was identified by fingerprints by crime scene investigation officers.

Witnesses said nine police cars, a van and an ambulance were on the scene that evening.

A post-mortem gave the cause of death as compressions to the neck.

Assistant coroner for MidKent and Medway Sonia Hayes suspended the inquest pending further investigation. Bowler is expected to go on trial in July but will next appear in court on Friday, February 28, for a trial preparation hearing.

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