A man is due to appear at Lewes Crown Court today charged with the murder of Michael Polding.

Ricardo Pisano, 35, is due to appear before the court this morning for a preliminary hearing.

He is accused of the murder of Mr Polding, wounding Mr Polding and preventing the lawful and decent burial of a body.

He appeared before Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Saturday where the case was committed to crown court.

An international manhunt was launched after Mr Polding was found dead in his Brighton flat in July.

Police investigating the case also launched a website – the second of its kind in the UK – to search for Pisano, who is also known as Ricky Ree and Brandon Victor Pillay.

Police believe Pisano was the last person to see Mr Polding, 62, alive. After hunting across the globe, this week murder suspect Pisano was arrested in Southampton’s quiet Methuen Street.