Jazzwell Brown appeared in court accused of murdering Milton Keynes.

A man accused of stabbing two women to death in a block of flats on Christmas Day has appeared in court.

Joan Pearson, 38, and Teohna Grant, 24, were pronounced dead at the scene in Santa Cruz Avenue, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, when police arrived at 18:36 GMT on 25 December.

Jazzwell Brown, 49, of Santa Cruz Avenue, appeared at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court, charged with two counts of murder.

He spoke only to confirm his name, age and address and was remanded in custody pending a further hearing at Luton Crown Court on Tuesday.

Mr Brown has also been charged with the attempted murder of 29-year-old Bradley Leiter and a teenage boy.

The couple were found seriously injured at the address on Christmas Day and taken to hospital, where they are in a stable condition.

Thames Valley Police said a Staffordshire bull terrier, which was initially thought to have been killed in the incident, survived.

Mr Brown also faces charges of possessing a knife, blade or sharp object in a public place and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

Magistrate Bernard Crossey observed a moment of silence after the hearing in respect of the victims.

Police had earlier said they were assisting the families of those involved.

In view of the death, the nearby St. Joseph’s Church will open its school hall on Sunday from 16:00 to 19:00.

In one Post on Facebookit said the doors would be open to those seeking “a moment of quiet reflection or prayer, a candlelight or just a cup of tea and a chat”.