United Kingdom (UK) police said on Monday that the driver charged over the deaths of 39 people whose bodies were found in a lorry in Essex last week had appeared in court.
Maurice Robinson, 25, of Laurel Drive, Craigavon in Northern Ireland, appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court via video link, the Essex police said.
Robinson was charged with 39 counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to traffic people, conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration, and money laundering.
He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at the Central Criminal Court on Nov. 25.
The police said earlier that three people arrested in connection with the investigation have been released on bail.
A man and a woman, both aged 38, from Warrington, who were arrested in Cheshire last Friday, have been released on bail until Nov. 11, while a 46-year-old man from Northern Ireland, who was arrested at Stansted Airport, has been bailed until Nov. 13, the police said.
The bodies of the 39 people found in the lorry have been moved to a hospital for fatality victim identification.
Although police has had over 500 exhibits, including mobile phones and clothes that belonged to the deceased, they said they still needed more information to assist a wider investigation.
"We are working hard to understand how the 39 victims of this tragic incident have died and to identify all those involved. We remain open minded as to the nationalities of those who have died. We are asking anyone who may have information that may assist us in identification to come forward to us," said Detective Chief Inspector Martin Pasmore.
