A MAN accused of murdering two women days before Christmas has appeared in court.

Sandy Seagrave, 76, and 32-year-old teacher Amy Appleton were found dead outside a semi-detached house on Sunday December 22.

The incident shocked the small village of Crawley Down in West Sussex and led to an outpouring of grief in the community.

A 37-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder was taken to hospital in a “very unstable condition” but was released from hospital on Friday and charged with murder, police said.

Daniel Appleton, from Hazel Way, Crawley Down, appeared at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on Monday accused of the murder of Ms Appleton and Ms Seagrave.

Appearing in the dock in a wheelchair wearing a blue shirt, Appleton spoke only to confirm his details and that he understood proceedings.

Chairman of the bench Sandie Moore said the alleged offences were so serious that he needed to appear before a crown court.

She told him: “We have not got the authority to deal with any bail information and therefore you need to go back with the officers.

“So I will formally say that this will be sent to the crown court because we do not have the authority to deal with it at this court.”

Appleton was remanded in custody to appear at Lewes Crown Court in the next two days.

When the inquests were opened earlier this month, senior coroner Penelope Schofield was told post-mortem examinations showed Ms Seagrave and Ms Appleton died from “head injury”.

Ms Appleton, who taught at Copthorne Church of England Junior School, was described by her family as “a rock” who “always thought of others before herself”.

Ms Seagrave’s family also paid tribute to her, saying: “She was one of a kind, an eccentric character who was stubbornly independent, feisty, brave and not afraid of anything.”