Heathfield man accused of double murder unable to enter plea due to ‘technical problems’

David Fuller, 66, of Alder Close, Heathfield, has been remanded to Lewes Prison and was expected to appear at court by video link after being charged with murdering Wendy Knell, 25, and Caroline Pierce, 20, in 1987.

But according to Kent Online, Maidstone Crown Court heard that the prison was having problems in establishing a reliable link so he could speak with his lawyers because of ‘bandwidths’.

Defence barrister Oliver Saxby QC told Judge David Griffith-Jones QC that he was unable to have a conference with his client, the newspaper reports.

And he said it is the intention of Mr Fuller to plead not guilty, meaning he will go on trial in July.

Wendy Knell, who was 25, was discovered dead in her bedsit in Guildford Road, Tunbridge Wells on Tuesday, June 23, 1987. She had been sexually assaulted and beaten to death.

Five months later, on Tuesday, November 24, 1987, Caroline Pierce, aged 20, was murdered after being attacked outside her bedsit home in Grosvenor Park, Tunbridge Wells

Her body was found the following month, on December 15, in a field near St Mary in the Marsh, Romney Marsh.

The case, which has been dubbed the bedsit murders, has remained unsolved and subject to periodic reviews by cold case detectives from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate.

Mr Fuller was arrested for the murders on December 3, last year.

Kent Online confirmed the court hearing has been adjourned until next week when court staff hope a link to the prison will be established.