A man has been remanded in custody after appearing in court charged with two counts of murder over the deaths of two men whose remains were found in suitcases in Bristol.
Yostin Andres Mosquera, from Shepherd’s Bush, west London, was charged earlier on Monday with murdering Albert Alfonso, 62, and Paul Longworth, 71, between 8 and 10 July in the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.
The defendant, 34, assisted by a Spanish interpreter, spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth in a short hearing at Wimbledon magistrates court on Monday.
He was remanded in custody and will next appear for a hearing at the Old Bailey on Wednesday.
The lead magistrate Christina Ruiz told him: “You are remanded in custody as this court has no powers to consider bail.”
The men’s remains were found in two suitcases dumped near Clifton Suspension Bridge on Wednesday, while further remains were found at an address in Scotts Road, Shepherd’s Bush, on Friday.
In a statement outlining the charge before the hearing, the Metropolitan police said the victims lived together at a flat in Shepherd’s Bush and were known to the suspect.
Longworth was British, while Alfonso was originally from France but had obtained British citizenship, the force added.
The Met said Mosquera had been staying with the victims at a flat in Scotts Road for a “short period of time”.
Mosquera was arrested in the Bristol area in the early hours of Saturday after a joint operation carried out by the Met and Avon and Somerset police.
Evidence in the investigation so far has not pointed to a homophobic motive, Scotland Yard added, but it has been classified as a hate crime under national guidelines.
Andy Valentine, a deputy assistant commissioner at the Met, said: “My thoughts are first and foremost with Albert and Paul’s loved ones who are coming to terms with this terrible news.
“While we do not believe either of them had any close family, we have identified other next of kin who have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers. We are continuing to try and identify any extended family members.
“I know that this awful incident will cause concern not just among residents in Shepherd’s Bush but in the wider LGBTQ+ community across London.
“I hope it will be of some reassurance that whilst inquiries are still ongoing and the investigation is at a relatively early stage, we are not currently looking for anyone else in connection with the two murders.”
Avon and Somerset police were called at 11.57pm last Wednesday after a man was reported to have been seen acting suspiciously on Clifton Suspension Bridge.
Officers arrived less than 10 minutes later and the man had left the scene, leaving behind one suitcase. A second suitcase was found nearby a short time later. Both were found to contain human remains.
