A teenager accused of murdering Banbury woman Joanne Clarke at an exclusive holiday resort in the Bahamas could face the death penalty.

Jobless landscaper Terrell Anton MacIntosh, 18, of South East New Providence in the Bahamas, was charged with the murders of Joanne and American Lori Fogleman, 32, whose bodies were found near each other on Paradise Island.

During the ten-minute hearing before magistrates in Nassau, MacIntosh was charged with the murder, robbery and rape of the 24-year-old classroom assistant from Warwick Road, Banbury. Prosecutors said they would seek the death penalty.

Joanne's body was found dumped in bushes four weeks ago. She disappeared while sunbathing and had been strangled.

She was described as a "really lovely girl" by her mum Susan. Joanne had worked with special needs children at Neithrop Junior School in Banbury since October 1997.

Before that, she was a student at Banbury School and did her A-levels at North Oxfordshire College before graduating from Luton University in 1996 in social and women's studies.

MacIntosh will return to court on December 8 for a preliminary hearing. He was also charged with the murder and robbery of Virginia-based Ms Fogleman, who disappeared on July 20. The preliminary hearing into her murder is scheduled for November 23.

MacIntosh, who was not represented by counsel during the hearing, spoke only to confirm his name and address. He was remanded in custody at a prison on New Providence Island.

Joanne had been alone on the secluded beach after a friend, who was looking after a ten-year-old boy, left to take him home.

She had been on a three-week holiday to the Bahamas, staying with family friends in the islands' capital Nassau.

Joanne's body was flown back from the Bahamas a week after it was found and a post-mortem examination carried out.

The post-mortem showed she had been strangled and sexually assaulted.

A huge funeral was held earlier this month with more than 300 people attending.

The humanist service was held inside the main hall of North Oxfordshire College. It did not have prayers or hymns but instead consisted of readings, poetry, meditation and singing.

An acoustic version of REM's Everybody Hurts was played to the packed gathering, followed by Angels by Robbie Williams as the coffin was taken away.

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