A Colombian national who is accused of murdering two men while he was a 'guest' in their home before dumping their remains in suitcases on Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol is to face trial in April next year.
Yostin Andres Mosquera, 34, is charged with the murders of Albert Alfonso, 62, and Paul Longworth, 71, between July 8 and 10.
Police discovered the victims' bodies in suitcasesafter receiving a report of a man acting suspiciously on the bridge just before midnight last Wednesday.
Further remains were found at the victims' flat in London on Friday, where Mosquera had been staying as a 'guest', a court heard.
A court sketch of murder-accused Yostin Andres Mosquera. The Colombian national, who has been remanded in custody, is accused of murdering two men and dumping their remains.
Mosquera (left) has been charged with two counts of murder after human remains were found in Bristol and London. Police have named the two victims as 62-year-old Albert Alfonso (centre) and 71-year-old Paul Longworth (right)
Mr Alfonso and Mr Longworth had lived together at their flat in Scott's Road, Shepherd's Bush, and according to the Met Police, the accused was known to both victims and had been staying with them for a short while.
His Honour Judge Mark Lucraft, the Recorder of London, denied bail today at the Old Bailey and remanded Mosquera in custody until his plea hearing at the same court on October 2.
While a provisional trial date was set for April 14, 2025, he said he hoped that this could be brought forward.
Appearing in court via a video link from Belmarsh Prison, Mosquera, wearing a white t-shirt and tracksuit bottoms, spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth.
The Columbian national was assisted by a Spanish interpreter.
Meanwhile, outlining the case, Prosecutor Teresa Hay confirmed that Mosquera had been a 'guest' at the home.
She revealed that officers had encountered a 'scene of blood' at the victims' flat on Scott's Road.
She told the Old Bailey: 'Shortly before midnight last Wednesday, two suitcases were found on Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol.
'When those suitcases were examined, they contained human remains.
'Information on one of the suitcases linked it to an address on Scott's Road in London.
'Officers attended that address with a search warrant and discovered further human remains and what appeared to be a scene with blood.
A forensics tent set up on Clifton Suspension Bridge where two suitcases full of human remains were found
Mosquera (pictured) appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court on Monday charged with two counts of murder. A judge at the Old Bailey today set a provisional trial date of April 2025
'In the meantime, an image taken of the man who deposited the suitcases was circulated and at 2:15am on July 13 Mr Mosquera was located and arrested at Bristol Temple Meads train station.
'It appears that he had been a guest of the two people who have been identified as the deceased.'
Judge Lucraft set a provisional trial date for next April but said they will try to move it forward.
'We have been advised that the custody time limit expires on January 13, 2025, so we will try to secure a trial within that even if that means moving to another court rather than the Old Bailey,' Judge Lucraft said.
'However, I provisionally set the trial for April 14, 2025.'
Victims Mr Longworth, who was British, and Mr Alfonso, who was originally from France but had British citizenship, had previously been in a relationship and still lived together in Scott's Road.
The Met said that evidence in the investigation has not so far pointed to a hom*ophobic motive.
However, the murders have been classified as a hate crime under national guidelines.
Mosquera (pictured with Albert Alfonso and Paul Longworth) was arrested in Bristol in the early hours of Saturday, July 13
A manhunt was launched after suitcases containing human remains were found on Clifton Suspension Bridge (pictured)
In a statement released on Monday (July 15), Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Valentine said: 'My thoughts are first and foremost with Albert and Paul's loved ones who are coming to terms with this terrible news.
'While we do not believe either of them had any close family, we have identified other next of kin who have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers. We are continuing to try and identify any extended family members.
'I know that this awful incident will cause concern not just among residents in Shepherds Bush but in the wider LGBTQ+ community across London.
'I hope it will be of some reassurance that whilst enquiries are still ongoing and the investigation is at a relatively early stage, we are not currently looking for anyone else in connection with the two murders.
'Officers have worked with the pan-London LGBTQ+ Independent Advisory Group (IAG) since the identity of the two victims and their sexuality was established. Their advice, expertise and support for the investigation has been extremely valuable.
'We will continue to work with them, and with other partners including local IAGs, as the investigation and the policing response continues.'
