Second man charged over brutal slayings of French students

Jul 13 2008 By Billy Paterson

A SECOND man has been charged with the brutal knife murders of two French students in London.

Daniel Sonnex, 23, has been held since he was arrested on Thursday over the deaths of Laurent Bonomo and Gabriel Ferez, both 23.

Their burned bodies were found after a blast at a bedsit in South London on June 29.

Laurent had been stabbed nearly 200 times and Gabriel had around 50 knife wounds.

A35-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman arrested on Wednesday have been bailed.

It is believed the 35-year-old is Sonnex's brother, Bernard.

Nigel Farmer, 33, of no fixed abode, appeared before magistrates last Thursday accused of the double murder.

Farmer, who is also accused of arson and attempting to pervert the course of justice, was remanded until October 16 to appear at the Old Bailey.

An inquest into the deaths of the students was opened and adjourned on Tuesday.