The ex-boyfriend of a young university student stabbed to death in a shopping centre car park is due in court today.

Joshua Stimpson, 25, is expected to enter a plea to the charge of murdering university student Molly McLaren in her Citroen C1 car, which was parked at the Dockside Outlet in Chatham.

A previous hearing at Maidstone Crown Court was adjourned to enable the preparation of psychiatric reports.

It's his fourth court appearance since being arrested at the scene and charged with Molly's murder.

The 23-year-old suffered multiple slash and stab wounds to her chest, neck and throat during the attack, which happened just after 11am on Thursday, June 29.

The cause of death at an inquest hearing six days later was given as sharp force wounds to the neck.

Stimpson's Facebook page stated that he and Molly were in a relationship at the end of December last year and he posted several photos of them together.

But Molly's Facebook page stated at the time of her death that she was single.

Stimpson, of High Street, Wouldham near Rochester, is 26.

The case has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which will look into Molly's contact with officers before her death.

Molly was a student at the Medway campus of the University of Kent where she was studying exercise, sport and health education.

She lived in the nearby village of Cobham and worked part-time at local pub, The Leather Bottle. Paying tribute at the time of her death, the manager described her as "beautiful, lovely-natured, kind-hearted, just perfect".

She had also previously studied at North Kent College, Dartford.

Molly was also a health and fitness blogger and her parents Doug and Jo, brother Tom and two close friends have since set up The Molly McLaren Foundation to help people with eating disorders.

Donations and a JustGiving page have so far raised more than £20,000 and a number of events have been organised to take place next month.