Murder suspect had leave to remain, say police

A man charged with murder following the death of a two-year-old girl in Chertsey came to the UK legally and had leave to remain in the country, police say.

French national Kevin Kerjean, 31, who was born in the Central African Republic, has also been charged with the rape and sexual assault of a child under 13. He is due to appear at Guildford Crown Court on Monday.

Surrey Police said officers were called to a property in Pyrcroft Road at about 17:40 BST on Thursday, following reports of a concern for someone's safety.

The force said online rumours about the incident having taken place at an asylum seeker house of multiple occupancy (HMO) were "incorrect".

According to a police spokesperson, the Home Office has confirmed Kerjean legally entered the UK and applied for European Union Settled Status in December 2020.

He was granted leave to remain in the UK in March 2021 and received an extension which gave him permission to remain until March 2031.

The child is understood to have been known to Kerjean and police say they believe the incident took place "within a family setting".

"At this stage, we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident," the police spokesperson said.

On Thursday, several bouquets of flowers were left at the entrance to Syward Place, an apartment complex located on the corner of Pyrcroft Road and Bell Bridge Road.

Det Ch Supt Jon Groenen described it as "a tragic incident", adding that teams were "working hard to build a picture of what happened", while a significant police presence will remain in Pyrcroft Road over the coming days.

"We appreciate that all this will be concerning for residents and we would like to thank them for their co-operation as we conduct our investigation," said Groenen.

Additional reporting by PA Media

Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, onX and on Instagram, and listen to BBC Radio Surrey on Sounds. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.