A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of his teenage wife on Christmas Day.

Mohammad Qoraishi, 27, appeared by video link from Maidstone Police Station at Medway Magistrates Court after being charged with the murder of Parwin Quriashi who was found in a flat in Maidstone.

Police were called to Kentish Court, off London Road, shortly before 1.20pm on Tuesday, where the victim's body was found.

Qoraishi, of London Road, was subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder and was charged yesterday.

Officers remained at the property yesterday, with activity centred around a flat on the top floor of the three-storey block.

People living nearby also expressed their shock at the tragic death, in a neighbourhood described as "peaceful" where people were said to keep to themselves.

Qoraishi spoke only to confirm his name address and nationality as Afghan when he appeared for the brief hearing.

His case was sent to Maidstone Crown Court to be dealt with and Qoraishi was remanded in custody until then.

He is due to appear there on Monday, December 31.

Police are believed to have been alerted to reports of a young boy in distress at around 1.20pm on Tuesday and Mrs Quriashi's body was later discovered.

A murder investigation was launched and officers made an arrest later on in the afternoon.