Charges heard in cell

A man accused of four killings in 48 hours appeared in court today amid extraordinary scenes.

In an unusual move the case against Daniel Gonzalez, 24, was transferred from the courtroom at Highbury Corner magistrates' to the cells in the basement.

Gonzalez appeared on Monday in the same court charged with the murders of retired paediatrician Derek Robinson, 75, and his wife Jean, 68, at their home in Highgate last Friday. Today he appeared charged with two further murders, the stabbing of pub landlord Kevin Molloy, 46, in Tottenham earlier the same day, and the killing of grandmother Marie Harding, 73, who was knifed to

death in Southwick, West Sussex, two days earlier.

Gonzalez also faced three further charges: the attempted murder of Peter King, 61, near Portsmouth on the day of Mrs Harding's murder; burglary with intent to cause grievous bodily harm at an address in Frobi sher Road in Hornsey on Friday and the attempted murder of Koumis Constantino at the same address.

The district judge, Mrs Dorothy Quick, transferred the hearing to the cells of the court after a special plea from security staff and police.

The court was adjourned while the district judge, prosecutor Miss Nike Balogun and Gonzalez's solicitor Ian Wilkinson moved the proceedings to the cells.

Gonzalez lay on the floor of the cell with his feet stretched in front of him and his head resting on a bench. His arms were folded on his lap.

A police officer sat next to him inside the cell. Two other officers and two members of the court security staff stood guard at the entrance of the cell.

The judge stood at the open cell door and asked Gonzalez to confirm his name, date of birth and address. He did not reply.

Then she put the details of the first two murder charges to him as he lay passively on the floor. Again he did not reply.

She then detailed the further five charges and told him pointed out that because of the serious nature of the allegationsthe case was being transferred to the Central Criminal Court.

His solicitor stepped into the cell, but made no application for bail.

In open court, the judge ordered Gonzalez to be remanded in custody until 30 September.