A 21-year-old man accused of murdering an Italian couple in Thornaby has appeared at Teesside Crown Court on Thursday (December 29).

A murder investigation was launched after the bodies of a man and a woman was found in a flat on Thornaby Road at around 2.10pm on Wednesday, December 21.

The pair have been formally identified by Cleveland Police Antonino Calabro, 26, - known as Nino - and Francesca Di Dio, 20, who are both from Italy.

Andrea Cardinale, of Thornaby Road, has been charged with two counts of murder.

He appeared at Teesside Magistrates' Court on Boxing Day morning and was remanded in custody.

On Thursday (December 29), he made his first appearance at crown court.

Wearing a grey prison jumper, Cardinale, 21, spoke only to confirm his name - replying “yes, that’s me” when asked to confirm his details.

Cardinale will remain in custody until the next hearing on Monday, January 23.

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No further details of the alleged murders are given during the short hearing.

Cardinale will remain in custody until the next hearing on Monday, January 23.

Following the deaths, well-wishers laid flowers outside the flats, where police investigation teams descended.

Crime scene investigators could be seen carrying evidence bags and working in the building last week and a police cordon was erected blocking access to the property.