Two teenagers charged with London murders

Two teenagers, aged 15 and 16, have appeared in court charged with the murders of 16-year-olds Charlie Bartolo and Kearne Solanke in south-east London.

Kearne was stabbed in Titmuss Avenue, Thamesmead, and Charlie was found a mile away in Sewell Road, Abbey Wood, last Saturday.

The teenagers confirmed their names, dates of birth and addresses in separate hearings at Bexley magistrates court. The 15-year-old’s mother wept in court as the details of the case were heard. The prosecutor, Sophie Akister, said: “There was an attack on the first victim. During that the second was also fatally stabbed. The first victim was knocked off his bike by a car and then he was stabbed.”

The pair were remanded into youth detention and will appear at the Old Bailey on Tuesday.

The Metropolitan police appealed to anyone with information on the deaths to come forward.