THE stepson of Poole nurse Rui Li has appeared in court accused of driving her body to a quiet residential street after his father had allegedly murdered her.

Jonathan Legris appeared at Bournemouth Magistrates Court yesterday facing one charge of assisting an offender.

The charge states the 26-year-old, of Spring Road, drove a Fiat Punto, with the registration number W887 PDL containing the body of Rui Li in the boot, to an address in Verwood Crescent, Bournemouth.

The Crown Prosecution Service alleges he carried out the act with the intention of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of his father, Pierre Legris, who has been charged with his wife’s murder.

Jonathan Legris spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address during yesterday’s hearing.

The case was sent to Winchester Crown Court where Legris, who was granted conditional bail, is next due to appear on Monday June 30.

Rui Li, aged 44, was found dead in the boot of a silver Fiat Punto in Verwood Crescent on Friday May 30.

A pathologist recorded the cause of her death as blunt force trauma to the head.

A major police investigation was launched after the mother of one had not been seen since leaving work at Poole Hospital on Friday May 23.

Rui Li’s 60-year-old husband Pierre Legris, of Burnham Drive, Bournemouth, has been charged with her murder and has been remanded in custody.

Three women from Bournemouth, aged 25, 28 and 65, were also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender in connection with her alleged murder.

The women have all been released on bail until mid-July.