A 21-year-old man was remanded in custody last night charged with murdering a baby whose body was discovered in a culvert in February.

Sherwain McCoy Smith, now of no fixed abode but formerly of Arden Road, Smethwick, West Midlands, spoke only to confirm his date of birth and name during a 15-minute hearing at Birmingham Magistrates' Court.

No application for bail was made on behalf of Smith, who is charged with murdering six-month-old Troy Simpson on February 6 or February 7.

Troy, who had been reported missing by his mother and grandmother, was found dead by police search teams on February 8 beside Thimblemill Brook, Smethwick, about 300 metres away from his home in The Uplands.

Smith, who is also charged with perverting the course of justice in relation to the death, was ordered to appear at Birmingham Crown Court tomorrow.