MISS Grender was eight-and-a-half months pregnant when she was found in her Broadmead Park home, Lliswerry, by firefighters who were called to a blaze at the flat on February 5.

Carl Whant, 26, is charged with Miss Grender's murder and an offence of child destruction under the Infant Life (Preservation) Act 1929, which relates to destroying the life of a child before life existed external from its mother.

He is currently in custody awaiting his next hearing in May.

In a statement issue through the police yesterday Miss Grender’s family said: "We would like to thank everybody for all their support in what has been a traumatic time for our families.

"We realise that there is a long way to go yet. We ask that Nikitta and Kelsey-May are not forgotten as we continue to grieve for them both.

"We continue to live in this nightmare and now have to face the next few months ahead of us awaiting the forthcoming trial.

“We ask to be left alone with friends and family to get through this period.”