Man accused of women's murders appears in court

Sheryl Wilkins (left) was killed in August, five months before Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo was found dead

Two women allegedly killed by the same man five months apart were found in a similar position, a court has heard.

Details emerged as Simon Levy, 40, of Beaufoy Road, Tottenham, north London, appeared via video-link at the Old Bailey.

He is accused of murdering Sheryl Wilkins, 39, who was discovered unresponsive in High Road, Tottenham, on 24 August, and Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo, 53, who was found dead at a property in Walworth, south-east London, on 17 March.

Mr Levy spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth during the hearing.

Simon Levy was remanded into custody until the next hearing on 23 February

Prosecutor Tom Little KC told the court that Ms Valencia-Trujillo was "found in the early evening of 17 March in a block of flats very largely disused, so it does not contain many residents nor many people passing by apart from the odd security officer who patrol the area for safety".

Mr Little said: "The position her body was left in is similar to that of the other murder."

Mr Levy is also charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent, non-fatal strangulation and two counts of rape against another woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, in High Road, Tottenham, on 21 January.

Judge Mark Lucraft KC remanded the defendant into custody until the next hearing on 23 February, with his trial set to start in June.

On Monday, the Metropolitan Police appealed for anyone with information that could assist their investigation, or who has yet to report alleged incidents they have been directly affected by, to come forward.