IT consultant accused of murdering his wife

An IT consultant has appeared at Maidstone Crown Court accused of murdering his school teacher wife.

Wearing a grey sweatshirt and bottoms, Stuart Andrews, 54, spoke only to be identified during the brief hearing on Monday.

He was arrested after the body of 52-year-old Caroline Andrews was found at their rented bungalow in The Street, Benenden, on February 4.

A post-mortem examination revealed she had been strangled the previous day.

Andrews, a former adviser to the Bank of England, will return to court on April 1 for a case management hearing. A psychiatric report will be prepared in the meantime.

Judge Jeremy Carey set a provisional trial date for July 25.

A bail application was not made a nd Andrews was remanded in custody.

Tributes have been paid to Mrs Andrews who worked parttime at Benenden CE Primary School.

Head t eacher Gill Knox praised Mrs Andrews’ qualities as a teacher, saying: “Caroline knew the children really well and they all loved her.

“She was skilled at her job and always flexible, working right across the school years, but she particularly enjoyed working with the little ones in reception.”

The school held a special assembly for the mother-of- four at Benenden Church, with a child from each year group lighting a candle in Mrs Andrews’s memory.

IT consultant Stuart Andrews. Right, his wife Caroline who was found dead in their home