A man has appeared in court charged with murder after a pregnant woman was killed with a crossbow at her home in east London.

Ramanodge Unmathallegadoo appeared at Barkingside magistrates court on Tuesday charged with the murder of Sana Muhammad and will appear at the Old Bailey on 15 November.

Muhammad, 35, was shot in the stomach at her home in Ilford at 7.40am on Monday. She was taken to hospital where she was pronounced dead at 11am. Doctors managed to deliver the baby boy, named Ibrahim, by emergency caesarean. Police said he was in hospital in a stable condition.

Her husband, Imtiaz Muhammad, told the Evening Standard: “The arrow went up into her heart but did not touch the unborn baby. The baby was due in four weeks. They operated with the arrow still in because it would have been too dangerous to take out.

“She was a wonderful mother and wife. We were together seven years. I am heartbroken. We were inseparable.”

Police have confirmed that Ramanodge and Sana Muhammad were known to each other and said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the attack.

Neighbour Nisa Khan, who had known Sana Muhammad for eight years, said: “She was kind and caring and was a wonderful mother. She was a very good, lovely lady. She was a close friend of mine, and we would share our problems with each other and could talk for hours. She did everything for her children – they were her world.”

DCI Gary Holmes, of the Metropolitan police’s homicide and major crime command, said: “This is a tragic incident and our sympathies are with the loved ones and friends of the victim.”