THE stepbrother of 16-year-old Becky Watts has been remanded in custody charged with her murder.

Nathan Matthews, 28, spoke only to confirm name address and date of birth at Bristol Magistrates' Court this morning.

Wearing a blue T-shirt and unshaven, he appeared in the dock where he was handcuffed to a female dock officer and was led away after the brief court hearing, which lasted just one minute.

He will next appear at Bristol Crown Court by video link on Friday, District Judge Lynne Matthews said.

"As we all know, this case will have to go to the Crown Court," the judge told Matthews.

"I cannot entertain any application for bail this morning and thus I will remand you in custody."

Matthews, of Hazelbury Drive, Warmley, showed no emotion throughout the hearing.

Members of Becky's immediate family did not attend the short session.

No details of the case were given.

Matthews' girlfriend, Shauna Hoare, 21, was then brought in to the dock for her case to be heard.

Hoare, also dressed in a baggy blue T-shirt, spoke only to confirm her name, address and date of birth.

She did not enter a plea to the single charge of perverting the course of justice and no bail application was made.

The charge states that Hoare "did a series of acts which had the tendency to pervert the course of public justice in that you hindered the police investigation to assist Nathan Matthews and intended for him to avoid detection for the murder of Rebecca Watts".

Hoare, of Cotton Mill Lane, Bristol, was then handcuffed to a female dock officer and led to the cells.

The judge said: "This case also has to go to the Crown Court and is connected to the previous case.

"I understand that there is no application for bail. I send your case to the Crown Court at Bristol."

Hoare will appear before the court for a preliminary hearing on April 2.

A marked police van shielded by four uniformed officers on foot is thought to have taken the pair into the rear of the court earlier.

Inside, the public gallery in courtroom one was filled with about 40 people - mostly journalists.

Three uniformed police officers sat in front of the glass dock.

According to the charge sheet, Matthews is charged with the "murder of a person aged one year or older, namely between February 19 and March 3, murdered Rebecca Watts".

Hoare is charged with perverting the course of justice between February 19 and February 28, namely that she "consistently lied to the police which had a tendency to pervert the course of justice".

Four men and one woman, arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, remain in police custody.

Matthews and Hoare, who uses the surname Phillips on social media, were arrested on suspicion of Becky's kidnap on Saturday.

They were later rearrested on suspicion of her murder after body parts were found at an address in Bristol and were charged.

Hoare was previously taken to hospital by officers after "feeling unwell" in custody but returned after being seen by a doctor.

Becky, described as "wonderful" by her family, vanished from her home in Crown Hill, Bristol, at 11.15am on February 19.

Avon and Somerset Police launched a huge search operation - involving six police teams each day - after she was reported missing the following afternoon.

Wiltshire officers were among those drafted in to take part in the search.

On Monday night, detectives received information that Becky's body had been "cut up" and they attended a house in Barton Court, Barton Hill, Bristol.

Body parts were discovered at the address, which continues to be combed by forensics teams. A private ambulance was seen leaving the property on Tuesday afternoon.

Bouquets, teddies and cards have been left at the family home and at the site where body parts were found.

The five people arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender following the grim discovery are four men, aged 29, 29, 23 and 23, and one woman, also aged 23.

Matthews was identified as the teenager's stepbrother - the son of her father Darren's wife Anjie - by family members.

Belinda Robinson, 45, and her husband Chris, 64, from Bristol, waited at the rear of the court to see the van leave after the hearing.

Mrs Robinson, who said her son Richard knew Becky, said: "It's tragic. I don't think it has hit me properly yet.

"My son is in prison and I just don't know how he is feeling as he has read about it. It's a tragedy. The poor family and friends."

Two fundraising pages to help Becky's family pay for her funeral have received almost £9,000 in donations.

Meanwhile, a district judge sitting at Bristol Magistrates' Court has granted detectives a further 24 hours to question five people arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender in connection with the Becky Watts investigation.

The four men - two aged 29 and two 23 - and a 23-year-old woman were arrested on Monday evening.

Wiltshire Times:

  • A police van believed to be carrying Nathan Matthews arrives at Bristol Magistrates' Court today. Picture: Press Association