TWO teenagers appeared in court yesterday charged with the murder of Blackburn jewellers Mohammed "Tony" Karim and his wife Bilquis.

Christopher Peter Gavin, 18, of Dorman Road, Preston, who was arrested in Blackburn, appeared before Preston magistrates in the morning.

Flanked by two police officers he spoke only to confirm his name, age and address.

He was remanded in custody until April 7.

A 16-year-old youth from the Greenlands area of Preston, who cannot be named because of his age, appeared before the bench later, also charged with double murder.

He was remanded in custody to Lancaster Farms young offenders' institution until April 1.

His parents and friends sat in the public gallery for the 30 minute hearing.

Mohammed Karim, 52, and his wife Bilquis, 48, of Whalley Old Road, Little Harwood, Blackburn, were stabbed to death in their jewellery shop at Church Street, Preston, a week last Friday.

Gold bracelets worth £30,000 were also stolen from the shop, Tony and Sons Jewellers.

Mr and Mrs Karim's bodies were found by their sons Shabir and Shafiq, who broke into the shop after the couple failed to pick up their four grandchildren from school.

Police are still appealing for witnesses and have handed out leaflets in English, Urdu and Gujarati.

Hot-lines have been set up for people with information on 01772 618800 or a foreign language line on 01772 618827.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.