A MAN and a 16-year-old boy have appeared in court charged with the murder of an 83-year-old in Aldham.

Leighton Snook, 28, and a 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Colchester Magistrates' Court this morning charged with the murder of Donald Ralph.

Mr Ralph, 83, was found dead at his home in Halstead Road, Aldham, on December 29.

A post-mortem examination found he died from strangulation.

Both defendants also face a charge of theft of a motor vehicle.

Snook, of no fixed address, also faces a further charge of possession of an offensive weapon.

At the short hearing, both spoke only to confirm their name and dates of birth.

They were remanded in custody and will appear at Ipswich Crown Court this afternoon.

Two men, aged 30 and 39, and a 21-year-old woman, all arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, have been released on police bail while enquiries continue.