Maher Maaroufe, 22, has been charged with the murder of 19-year-old Sabita Thanwani, who was found dead at student accommodation in Clerkenwell, central London, shortly after 5am on Saturday, the Metropolitan Police said.
Mr Maaroufe, 22 of no fixed address, has also been charged with assaulting an emergency worker. He appeared in custody at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, 22 March.
Mr Maaroufe, who appeared wearing grey clothes and a blue face mask, spoke only to confirm his name, age and that he has no fixed address.
Mohammed Zeb, defending, told the court that at future hearings "there should be an interpreter for the Tunisian Arabic dialect".
Magistrate Greville Waterman remanded Mr Maaroufe into custody until Thursday March 24, when he will appear for a hearing at the Old Bailey.
Asked by the magistrate if he understood proceedings, Mr Maaroufe shook his head.
Mr Zeb said he would explain it to his client after they left the courtroom.
The Tunisian national was arrested on Sunday on suspicion of murder and assault after a manhunt.
A post-mortem examination of Ms Thanwani was carried out at Whittington Hospital yesterday and gave the cause of death as sharp force trauma to the neck.
Yesterday, her family said that they pray girls and women will one day be “safe” after their daughter was found dead in student accommodation in Clerkenwell, London.
In a statement issued through police, they described the 19-year-old psychology student at City University as "an angel" who "was pure and did not see bad in anyone".
"We can only pray that lessons will be learnt and that somehow, there will come a day when girls and women are safe," they said in a statement released via the Metropolitan Police.
"Sabita Thanwani was our daughter. Our angel. Her life, that we hoped would be long, was cut tragically short."
"She was ripped away from those who loved her so very dearly; her mum, dad, brother, grandparents, extended family and friends."
