A FORMER Yorkshire Regiment soldier has appeared in court charged with murdering York estate agency worker Nicole Waterhouse.

Jeremy Peter Andrew Green, 25, appeared before York Magistrates’ Court today charged with 32-year-old Miss Waterhouse’s murder and the attempted murder of her colleague Karen Browne, 23.

Green, a graduate of Sandhurst Military Academy, stepped down as platoon commander with The Yorkshire Regiment in April this year after serving in Afghanistan. He spoke in court only to confirm his name and his address: Popeshead Court in York city centre. He will appear at Leeds Crown Court next month.

It emerged today that two cars had been removed from outside the crime scene in Phoenix Boulevard, off Leeman Road, where both women were found at 7.30pm on Sunday and police also carried out further searches at Popeshead Court.

Ian Clancy, who lives opposite the crime scene, said he had seen police remove a silver Vauxhall Corsa and a blue Citroen C1 since the incident. The Press understands at least one of the vehicles had been vandalised.

Mr Clancy also said staff from Hunters Estate Agents, where both victims worked as sales negotiators, had visited the scene.

He said: “I saw a Hunters Estate Agency car turn up and floral tributes have been laid down.

“It’s unbelievable, devastating really. It’s the first time I’ve ever come across anything like that in my life.”

Meanwhile residents in Miss Browne’s home village, Linton-on-Ouse, have told of their shock. Brian Marston, chairman of Linton-on-Ouse Parish Council, said he knew Miss Browne’s parents Lisa and Clive, who have run Linton Stores for about ten years. He had spoken to them since the attack and said they were “bearing up”.

He said: “The family are well-known as Linton-on-Ouse is a small village and they run the village shop, and I watched Karen grow up. The village is shocked and everybody obviously wishes Karen and her family well and sends them our best wishes.”

Josh Ward, who is running the College Arms pub in Linton-on-Ouse, said locals had begun a collection for Miss Browne: “Everyone’s just really shocked more than anything. No-one expected anything like this.

“Some of the customers know her and it’s a tight-knit community, so we’re doing a collection for her and donations are flooding in.”

Michael Chambers, 27, who also works at the pub, said he knew Miss Browne, who remains in a critical but stable condition at York Hospital, from school and the village.

He said: “She is one of the most loveable people you can imagine. Absolutely lovely, you can’t fault her in any way.

“I just feel shocked. You read about it all the time, but don’t expect it to happen to someone you know, and such a lovely person.”

John Butcher, deputy headteacher of Easingwold School, said staff remembered Miss Browne and her younger brother and sister.

Mr Butcher said: “It was a real shock to hear this. I have spoken to a number of colleagues who taught her in the sixth form and those who knew her are very shocked at what happened. Our thoughts are with her family and we hope she makes a full recovery.“

Kevin Hollinrake, company director at Hunters, where Nicole’s father John Waterhouse is a partner, said: “We understand Karen is doing as well as can be expected.

“They are both lovely people and totally undeserving of any of these devastating, tragic events have happened to them. The police have got to do their job, and we have to let them, the family are keen to have privacy at this time.”

Green, who was remanded in custody, is understood to have been educated at the prestigious Oakham School, near Leicester - a boarding school which has fees of up to £29,000 per year. He grew up in Leicestershire and Rutland. He travelled to Africa and the USA, before taking one year of a French and Arabic course at the University of Reading, then joining the Army, according to an interview with a military magazine in 2011.

A provisional trial date was set for April next year at Leeds Crown Court. A preliminary hearing will be held at Leeds Crown Court next month.

Anyone with information which could assist the investigation should phone North Yorkshire Police on 101, email majorcrimeunit@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk or phone Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.