A WOMAN has appeared in court in connection with the alleged murder of Poole nurse Rui Li.

Irene Erosa Smith, of St Clements Road, Boscombe, has been charged with perverting the course of justice following the death of Ms Li.

As part of the charge, the 65-year-old is accused of giving a false statement to police, as well as removing and concealing clothing.

She appeared at Bournemouth Magistrates' Court this morning morning, where she did not enter a plea to the allegations against her.

Wearing a denim jacket and checked shirt, Smith spoke quietly to confirm her address and date of birth during the brief hearing.

She was committed to Bournemouth Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on September 29.

The case will then be transferred to Winchester Crown Court.

Smith – who answers unconditional bail - is the third person to be charged in connection with Ms Li's death.

The nurse's husband Pierre Legris, 60, was charged with murdering her on May 30 this year.

Shortly afterwards, her stepson Jonathan, 26, was charged with assisting an offender.

Both are due to appear before a judge at Winchester Crown Court later this month for a plea and case management hearing.

Smith is the former wife of Legris, and mother of Jonathan.

Dorset Police launched a murder investigation in May after Ms Li was reported missing.

A week after she was last seen leaving Poole Hospital, her body was discovered in the boot of a Fiat Punto parked in Verwood Crescent, Bournemouth.

A post mortem revealed the mother-of-one had died of blunt force trauma to the head.