cold case charge bedsit murders suspect, 66, is pictured as he appears in court for one of Britain’s biggest unsolved double killings

David Fuller, 66, of small market town Heathfield in East Sussex, was in the dock today over the deaths of Wendy Knell and Caroline Pierce - known as the 'Bedsit Murders' - in 1987.

Both women were in their 20s when they were sexually assaulted and strangled to death just months apart.

Fuller appeared at Medway Magistrates' Court today dressed in a grey jumper, white t-shirt and grey trousers.

He spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth during a hearing lasting less than five minutes.

Prosecutor Nesisa Ndhlova alleged: "This matter involves a double murder.

"The first victim is a Miss Wendy Knell, who would have been 25 at the time, and the second is one Ms Caroline Pierce who would have been aged 20.

"In the early hours of June 23 1987, Wendy Knell was Murdered in her ground-floor bedsit flat.

"She suffered injuries and the cause of death that was given was compression of the neck and haemorrhage.

"The cause of death for Ms Caroline Pierce was given as strangulation and a closed head injury and there was a sexual assault."

The defendant, who didn't enter pleas to the two charges against him, will next appear before a crown court judge on Tuesday.

Wendy, 25, was found dead in her flat in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, five months before Caroline, 20, was found dead in a remote field on Romney Marsh in Kent.

The women were found naked and their keys were missing.

Despite a huge investigation at the time, their killer has evaded justice for more than three decades.

Cops made a dramatic arrest on Thursday.

In a statement, officers said: "Detectives have charged a man with murdering two women from Tunbridge Wells more than 30 years ago. 

"David Fuller, aged 66, from Heathfield, East Sussex, was arrested in connection with the deaths of Wendy Knell and Caroline Pierce in 1987. 

"He has now been charged with two counts of Murder ."

Assistant Chief Constable Tracey Harman called for anyone with information to come forward.

"While more than three decades have passed since these murders took place, I would urge anyone who has any information - no matter how minor or insignificant it may appear to be - to contact us," the top officer said.

Both victims had been living just a mile apart from each other before they were murdered.

Cops believed Wendy's killer broke in through a faulty back window.

Her diary and keys with a distinctive keyring were missing and have never been found.

Officers believe Caroline was killed on November 24 1987 after she was also sexually assaulted, beaten and strangled.

Her naked body was found three weeks later by a farm worker in the dyke of a remote field on the Romney Marsh - some 40 miles away from her home.

It is believed she was attacked outside her bedsit after neighbours reported hearing screams.

Caroline's keys were also never recovered.

In 2012 Kent Police revealed it had a full DNA profile of their prime suspect for both murders.

Following the breakthrough, a spokesman for the force said: "Families of both victims have been informed of the arrest and are being kept updated."
The sun