A man will appear in court today accused of the murder of a six-year-old girl who was killed in a house fire almost seven years ago.

Zimbabwean-born Dumo Sibanda died after a fire was started at her home in Banks Road in the Pound Hill area of Crawley in October 2004.

Members of her family managed to escape the blaze but Dumo was found inside.

She was taken to hospital where she was later pronounced dead.

British detectives flew to South Africa last year to make appeals in the local media for help to track down suspect George Champion Sithole.

The 40-year-old was traced and he was flown back from Johannesburg to Heathrow in March this year, accompanied by officers from Sussex Police's major crime branch.

Sithole, of no fixed address, was then charged with murder, arson with intent to endanger life and arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

He will appear at a plea hearing at Lewes Crown Court.