Husband In Court Over Kent Car Explosion

8 March 2010, 12:19 | Updated: 9 March 2010, 11:22

A Kent man's been remanded in custody charged with attempting to murder his wife and her eight-year-old son after a car explosion in Vigo.

Former bomb disposal expert Nicholas Fabian, 32, of Highview, Vigo, near Meopham, also faced a charge of unlawful possession of ammunition.

His wife, Victoria Fabian, also 32, was transferred to a London hospital for specialist treatment after suffering serious leg injuries in the explosion in a residents' car park.

Doctors believe Mrs Fabian's unborn child escaped unharmed from the blast, which happened just after 1pm last Friday in Highview in Vigo.

Her eight-year-old son, who was also in the car at the time, was taken to Darent Valley Hospital as a precaution but released after being kept in for observation.

Appearing in the dock with two security guards and wearing a blue jumper, Fabian confirmed his name, address and date of birth during a five-minute hearing at Dartford Magistrates' Court.

There was no indication of plea and no bail application was made. Chair of the bench Margaret Lane remanded him in custody to appear at Maidstone Crown Court on March 22.

Fabian's mother, Kathleen Mitchell-Hewson, said he was due to be sent to Afghanistan shortly as a reservist, having left the Army in 2003.

As Mrs Fabian is still undergoing further operations in a London hospital, her family's released this statement:

"The family is deeply saddened and shocked by Friday’s incident and the sequence of events as they unfold.

At the moment all our energy and attention is focused on supporting Vicky and her children.

Vicky is in the best place and has started her long road to recovery.

We would like to request that our privacy be respected at this difficult time."

Other people were in the area at the time but no one else was hurt.