More time to quiz man over murders - News in brief - Evening Standard
       

More time to quiz man over murders

Police have been given more time to question a 23-year-old man in connection with the savage murders of two French students.

Daniel Sonnex was arrested at an address in Peckham, south-east London, on Thursday evening. Scotland Yard had issued an alert to find him less than an hour before.

The badly-burned bodies of Laurent Bonomo and Gabriel Ferez were found after an explosion at a rented bedsit in New Cross, south London, on June 29.

Mr Bonomo had been stabbed nearly 200 times while Mr Ferez had suffered nearly 50 knife wounds.

A 35-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman arrested at an address in Streatham, south London, on Wednesday have now been bailed to return on dates in July and August respectively, pending further inquiries. It is understood that the 35-year-old man is Sonnex's brother, Bernard.

Nigel Farmer, 33, of no fixed address, appeared at Greenwich Magistrates' Court on Thursday, accused of the double murder.

Farmer, who is also accused of arson and attempting to pervert the course of justice, was remanded in custody until October 16 when he will appear at the Old Bailey.

Mr Bonomo and Mr Ferez had been selected for the Undergraduate Opportunities for Research Programme, a three-month project on DNA, in the life sciences department at Imperial College, London.

Inquests into their deaths were opened and adjourned on Tuesday at Southwark Coroner's Court which heard they had died from multiple stab wounds.

Police were granted a warrant of further detention which permits them to hold Sonnex without charge until Sunday evening, by Richmond Magistrates' Court.

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