A man accused of murdering two women more than 30 years ago has been unable to enter his formal pleas "due to technical difficulties".

David Fuller has been remanded to Lewes Prison and was expected to appear by video link after charged with killing Wendy Knell, 25, and Caroline Pierce, 20, in 1987.

But Maidstone Crown Court heard that the prison was having problems in establishing a reliable link so he could speak with his lawyers because of "bandwidths".

Defence barrister Oliver Saxby QC told Judge David Griffith-Jones QC that he was unable to have a conference with his client.

He said it is the intention of the 66-year-old, from Alder Close, Heathfield, East Sussex, to plead not guilty, meaning he will go on trial in July.

Wendy Knell, was just 25 when she was discovered sexually assaulted and beaten to death at her bedsit in Guildford Road, Tunbridge Wells in June 1987.

Five months later Caroline Pierce, 20, went missing from her bedsit in Grosvenor Park, only for her body to be found weeks later on Romney Marsh.

The killings were dubbed the bedsit murders.

The hearing was adjourned until next week when court staff hope a link to the prison will be established.

"I am sorry these technical problems have dogged us today but that is not unusual, " said the judge.

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