Extra time for student murders quiz

3:21am Wednesday 9th July 2008

Police have been granted more time to question a 33-year-old man over the deaths of two French students.

Scotland Yard said a warrant of further detention was obtained by detectives investigating the double murder of Gabriel Ferez and Laurent Bonomo.

They spent all day questioning the man over the brutal attack in south east London nine days ago after he handed himself in in the early hours of Monday.

The warrant, granted at Greenwich Magistrates' Court on Tuesday afternoon, allows police to hold the suspect for a further 36 hours.

The man was taken for hospital treatment to burns to his arms and hands after attending Lewisham police station, in south east London.

The badly-burned bodies of the two 23-year-olds were found after an explosion at a rented bedsit in New Cross.

Investigators found they had been bound, gagged and tortured before petrol or a similar inflammable liquid was splashed on and around their bodies.

Sources close to the investigation insisted that officers still believe more than one person could have been involved in the prolonged attack.

Inquests into the deaths of Mr Bonomo and Mr Ferez were opened and adjourned earlier on Tuesday.

Southwark Coroner's Court was told the two high-flying biochemistry students died from multiple stab wounds. A spokeswoman said coroner Doreen Lawrence adjourned the inquest for 28 days as police inquiries continue.

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