The stepbrother of 16-year-old Becky Watts has appeared before a Crown Court charged with her murder.
Nathan Matthews (28) did not enter a plea to the single charge he faces during a short hearing at Bristol Crown Court.
Matthews, who was unshaven and wearing a grey sweatshirt, appeared via video link from HMP Bristol.
No details of the case were given and Matthews spoke only to confirm his name and that he could hear proceedings.
Judge Neil Ford QC, Recorder of Bristol, remanded Matthews in custody and set another hearing for March 26th.
Matthews' girlfriend, Shauna Hoare (21) will also appear before the court charged with perverting the course of justice on that date.
The judge said: “Mr Matthews, the next hearing in this case will be on March 26 and I hope you will attend by television link.
“You will remain in custody in the meantime.”
The judge said: “The position at this stage is that I will put a provisional, tentative trial date of September 1. It is very tentative.
“We don’t yet know the full extent of the case and whether it can be ready for September 1.”
Prosecutor James Ward told the court: "Nathan Matthews is charged with the murder of Rebecca Watts.
“The allegations of this case have been well-rehearsed in the press recently and I do not propose to go into the finer details.
“There are still people helping the police with their inquiries. Therefore, it would be wrong to place before the media further details about this case.”
Mr Ward said police were assessing “at least” 1,200 exhibits in connection with the case.
“Much forensic work needs to be done,” he said.
Paul Cook, representing Matthews, said his client was not making an application for bail.
They were detained after detectives attended a house in Barton Court, Barton Hill in Bristol, following information that Becky's body had been "cut up".
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.
Becky, described as “wonderful” by her family, vanished from her home in Crown Hill, Bristol, at 11.15am on February 19.
Police launched a huge search after she was reporting missing the following afternoon, including a social media campaign using the hashtag #FindBecky.
Four more people have been charged in connection with the investigation into the murder.
Karl Demetrius and Donovan Demetrius, both 29 years-of-age, Jaydene Parsons (23) and James Ireland (23) have been charged with assisting an offender in connection with the investigation into the murder, Avon and Somerset Police said.
They have been remanded in custody and are due to appear before Bristol Magistrates’ Court this afternoon, police said. A fifth person, a 23-year-old man who was arrested on Monday, has been released without charge.
Bouquets, teddies and cards have been left at Becky’s family home, as well as at Barton Court, and mourners have attended churches across the city to pay their respects.
Matthews, of Hazelbury Drive, Warmley, was previously identified as the teenager’s stepbrother — the son of her father Darren’s wife Anjie — by family members.
PA