Two people have appeared in court in connection with the alleged murder of Poole Hospital nurse Rui Li.

Irene Erosa Smith, 66, of St Clements Road, Bournemouth and her son, Jonathan Legris, 27, of Spring Road have been charged with conspiracy to murder.

Miss Li, 44, died of head injuries and her body was found in the boot of a car in Bournemouth in May, a week after she went missing.

Her husband Pierre Legris, 60, of Burnham Drive, Bournemouth, was charged with murder and is currently in custody awaiting trial.

He is also charged with bigamy.

Jonathan Legris of Spring Road, Boscombe, had already been charged with assisting an offender.

Smith had been charged with perverting the course of justice.

Miss Smith and Jonathan Legris both appeared in a joint hearing at Bournemouth Magistrates Court on Saturday morning.

Mr Legris, wearing a black jacket and white shirt, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address.

Miss Smith, wearing a dark suit jacket, did the same.

The charges relate to between January this year and Friday, November 21, the court heard.

Prosecutor Lee Turner said the defendants “jointly and together with Pierre Legris conspired to murder Rui Li.”

No application for bail was made and both were remanded in custody by magistrates.

They will next appear at Bournemouth Crown Court on December 5.

Last week the Daily Echo reported that Dorset Police have been searching for a weapon in the Ringwood area in recent weeks.

Miss Li was last seen leaving work at Poole Hospital on the evening of Friday, May 23.

She was captured on CCTV driving out of the car park at the hospital in her sports car.

Her body was found in the boot of a Fiat Punto in Verwood Crescent, a week later.

An inquest, opened and adjourned in Bournemouth heard that she had died as the result of blunt force trauma.