A MAN appeared before magistrates this morning charged with the double murder of his partner and their son.

James Patrick Conan, 64, is said to have killed 21-year-old Kirsty O'Connell and four-year-old Patrick O'Connell at an address in Winchester some time last week.

The bodies of the two victims were discovered at a two-bedroom flat in Woolford Close, Stanmore, on Friday night.

Conan, of Woolford Close, appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates' Court shortly after 10am dressed in a dark sweatshirt and dark trousers.

He spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth, and following the five-minute hearing was remanded back into custody. No application for bail was made.

He will next appear at Winchester Crown Court on Monday, August 20.

Post mortem results revealed that Kirsty died of multiple stab wounds to her neck and compression to the neck while PJ died as a result of asphyxia.

Kirsty's family said in a statement: "We are trying to come to terms with the sudden and tragic loss of our daughter Kirsty and our grandson Patrick.

"She was a devoted mother and a much loved daughter."