The former partner of a young mum who died in her Carlisle home has appeared before a district judge accused of her murder.

Miklos Verebes, 29, who is also charged with three counts of raping 33-year-old pizza shop worker Melinda Korosi, made a brief appearance before District Judge Gerald Chalk at the city's Rickergate courts complex.

Police found the mum-of-two critically injured inside her Orton Road home in Carlisle just after 6am last Thursday.

Despite efforts to save her, she died a short time later.

Verebes stood behind the glass-fronted dock of Court Number Two, flanked by male and female dock officers.

He replied calmly when court clerk Fred Walker asked him to confirm his name, date of birth, and address.

Mr Walker then told the defendant that he faces four charges.

The first was that he murdered Miss Korosi in Carlisle on September 15. No further detail of the allegation – including how Miss Korosi is alleged to have died – were outlined by the clerk.

Mr Walker then went on to read aloud the remaining three charges.

Those allegations were that Verebes raped Miss Korosi on dates between October 1, 2012, and July, 2016.

The bearded defendant, wearing a grey T-shirt, stood calmly without speaking as the allegations were outlined.

Asked if he understood the proceedings so far, he replied: “Yes I do.”

When asked for his current address – which on the court sheet was listed as Orton Road, Carlise - Verebes confirmed that he is currently of no fixed abode.

He entered no pleas. Nor did his defence lawyer Sara Budniak, of the Carlisle law firm Wragg Mark-Bell, make any application for bail.

District Judge Gerald Chalk told Verebes that both the murder and the rape allegations are so serious that they can only be dealt with by a circuit judge at the city's Earl Street Crown Court.

“My only function is to send you to that senior court,” said the judge.

“You will make your appearance there tomorrow, September 20. I am not allowed to consider whether you will be granted bail.”

Judge Chalk formally remanded Verebes in custody until his court appearance today.

As police last week guarded the cordon that sealed off the cul-de-sac where Miss Korosi had been living for the past year, her neighbours spoke of their shock at her death in such dreadful circumstances.

They said she had always been polite and friendly.

“She was a lovely woman,” said one neighbour, commenting that her young son had been deeply distressed by the tragedy.

A worker at the London Road branch of Domino's Pizza in Carlisle, Miss Korosi was often seen walking to work.

A native of Hungary, she had moved to her home in Orton Road about a year ago. The tragedy has left the community in shock.

Police confirmed on Friday last week that they had traced Miss Korosi's parents abroad and given them the heartbreaking news of her death. They are understood to live in Hungary.