A 17-YEAR-OLD youth has been charged with the murder of a carer.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is accused of killing Simon Pearse in Rushey Green, Catford, on July 30 last year.

Mr Pearse, 45, suffered a fractured skull after he was assaulted in the early hours on his way home after a night out.

The suspect appeared at Camberwell Youth Court, on March 10, charged with murder. He was remanded in custody for a bail application and was due to appear again yesterday at the Old Bailey.

A 16-year-old boy from Eltham was arrested in connection with the murder and released on bail to return to a south London police station next month.

The murder charge and 16-year-old's arrest follow a high-profile appeal on Crimewatch, where police offered a £20,000 reward in the hunt for the killer.