Avtar and Carole Kolar deaths: Man in court on murder charge

Artist's impression of Rimvydas Liorancas in court

A man has been charged with the murder of a West Midlands couple who were found dead at their home by their son, a serving police officer.

Avtar Kolar, 62, and his wife Carole, 58, who had been married for 40 years, were found at their Handsworth Wood home in Birmingham, on 11 January.

Lithuanian Rimvydas Liorancas, 37, appeared before magistrates in the city and was remanded in custody.

He is due to appear in Birmingham Crown Court on Monday.

Mr Liorancas spoke only to confirm his name and address, through an interpreter.

Police do not believe the killings were linked to the victims' son being a policeman or the theft of gold.

Public meeting

A lump hammer, believed to have been used in the attack, has been recovered from the scene in Friary Road.

Det Ch Supt Steve Jupp, from West Midlands Police, told a press conference post-mortem examinations had revealed that both died as a result of blunt-force trauma to the head.

Mr Jupp added: "The devastating impact of such a senseless crime has been far-reaching and the comfort drawn by the family from words of friends, the community and further afield has been much appreciated by them."

A 41-year-old man was previously released without charge and a 24-year-old man is on police bail.

A public meeting will be held on Thursday evening in Handsworth Wood to update residents on the case.

Acting Supt Sean Russell said: "It's important that the community know we are not going to walk away now."

The police said Khalid Mahmood, the Labour MP for Perry Barr, would also be attending the meeting.