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A woman from south-east London is accused of battering her 72-year-old landlord to death and stabbing his pet cat called Snow, the Old Bailey has heard.

Habiba Naveed, 34, is charged with murdering lawyer Christopher Brown last Wednesday and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

The Metropolitan Police began an investigation after Mr Brown's body was discovered at the home he shared with Ms Naveed in Polsted Road, Lewisham.

The house cat, Snow, was also found dead having been stabbed in the neck.

A post-mortem examination found Mr Brown had died from blunt force trauma.

Ms Naveed was arrested last Thursday on suspicion of murder and taken to a south London police station, where she was later charged with the two offences.

Prosecutor Kerry Broome told the Old Bailey: "The defendant is suspected of murdering her landlord/friend.

"The house cat was found deceased at the property as well."

Judge Judy Khan KC remanded Ms Naveed into custody to next appear in court for a plea hearing on 5 November.

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