Stuart Hazell has appeared before the Old Bailey via video link charged with the murder of Tia Sharp.
The defendant, from New Addington, south London, is accused of killing the 12-year-old schoolgirl between August 2 and 11.
No application for bail was made.
Hazell, 37, appeared via video-link from Belmarsh prison in south east London, wearing an orange T-shirt and sitting next to a prison officer.
He was remanded in custody and will appear for a plea and case management hearing at the same court on November 19.
Tia's body was found at her grandmother Christine Sharp's home in New Addington last Friday, a week after she was reported missing.
Hazell is the partner of Ms Sharp, 46, who was arrested on suspicion of murder but bailed on Sunday pending further inquiries. Her next-door neighbour, Paul Meehan, 39, was bailed on suspicion of assisting an offender.
More information follows...
