A man yesterday appeared in court accused of murdering 26-year-old Ruth Binns.

Arnold Shawn Astwood, 35, of Green Acres Road, Devonshire, faced a brief hearing at Magistrates' Court where Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner read the charge relating to Ms Binns' death on Tuesday, September 25.

Astwood, dressed in a grey track suit with his hair tied in a ponytail, stood silently as Mr. Warner told him he would be remanded in custody ahead of another magistrates hearing on Monday, October 15. At least a dozen family members and friends of Ms Binns attended the court.

The defendant was led from the court before getting into an unmarked Police car.

Ms Binns, also known as Ruth Dill, was discovered dead by her sister in her apartment at Camp Hill Road, Southampton — just three weeks before her family mourns the anniversary of the stabbing death of her brother.