A 21-year-old man accused of stabbing to death a police station cleaner has been remanded in custody.

Martin Joyce appeared before Oxford magistrates yesterday accused of murdering Enayit Khalili, 26, in Rose Hill 14 months ago.

Mr Khalili died from a single knife wound to his stomach received when he answered the door to his home in Fiennes Road, Rose Hill, in Oxford.

Joyce, of Larch Hill, in Bradford, Yorkshire, was lead into the courtroom by three security guards.

He nodded to about 10 friends and family sitting in the public gallery and was told by the court clerk to take his hands out of his pockets.

Wearing a beige jumper over a white shirt, Joyce spoke only to confirm his name, age and date of birth during the five-minute hearing.

Anne Howes, prosecuting, told the court police arrested Joyce on suspicion of the murder of Mr Khalili on Friday.

Police charged Joyce with murder on Sunday night, she added.

Magistrates formally committed the case to Oxford Crown Court for its next hearing because the crime carries a life sentence.

Lee Reed, defending, did not apply for bail and chairman of the magistrates Colin Maguire remanded Joyce in custody.

Mr Maguire said: "The offence which we are dealing with today can only be treated at crown court.

"Therefore I am sending you to Oxford Crown Court where you must appear on Friday, May 30.

"In the meantime you will be remanded in custody."

Joyce nodded to family as he left the dock flanked by the three security staff.

Mr Khalili, who worked part-time as a cleaner at Cowley police station, was stabbed when he answered his door at around 3.30am on March 24 last year.

He later died in hospital from a single stab wound.

Six Afghan men aged between 22 and 36-years-old were arrested on suspicion of murder but all released without charge.

To mark the first year anniversary of Mr Khalili's death police offered a £25,000 reward for any information that leads to his killer's conviction.

Mr Khalili arrived in England as an asylum seeker from Afghanistan in 2001 and was later granted permanent leave to remain in the country.

He held a string of jobs in the area and sent money back to his family living in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

A 61-year-old woman arrested on Friday in connection with the stabbing on suspicion of perverting the course of justice has been bailed by police.