Man appears in court charged with murdering two women

A man has appeared in court charged with the murders of two women.

Jack Ralph, 28, is accused of murdering Margaret Harris, aged in her 70s, and Sharon Harris, in her 50s, on Saturday September 29 in the Kent village of Hadlow.

He appeared via video link at Medway Magistrates’ Court in Chatham on Monday morning.

Ralph, of Carpenters Lane, Hadlow, is also charged with one count of attempted murder.

Police were called by paramedics to a neighbouring house on Carpenters Lane just after 7.40am on Saturday and found three people wounded from serious injuries “consistent with a stabbing”, police said.

The two women died at the scene. Mrs Harris’ husband David, also in his 70s, was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries.

Neighbours spoke fondly of the couple.

Nigel Keogh, a 51-year-old plasterer who lives across the street, described Mr and Mrs Harris as a “nice couple”, adding: “They kept themselves to themselves.”

Ralph will next appear at Maidstone Crown Court on October 3.