A couple have appeared in court charged with murder after the badly burned body of a French “au pair” was found in the garden of a £900,000 home.

Ouissem Medouni, 40, and 34-year-old Sabrina Kouider were detained after the charred remains were discovered in Southfields, south-west London.

The pair - who are believed to live at the address in Wimbledon Park Road with their two children, who have since been taken into care - were charged with murder, Scotland Yard said early on Friday.

Wearing grey tracksuits, they appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court for a short hearing on Friday morning.