The girls were shot on 2 January

Tafarwa Theodore Beckford, 21, from the Ladywood area of Birmingham, was charged on Thursday evening with the murders of Charlene Ellis and Letisha Shakespeare.

Mr Beckford, who is the stepbrother of award-winning R&B singer Jamelia, was charged following the court appearance of four other men earlier in the day.

The four, including the half brother of Charlene, are also charged with the murders of the girls who were shot dead outside the party in Birmingham.

Marcus Junior Ellis, 23, from Winson Green; Michael Gregory, 22, from Ladywood, Birmingham; Rodrigo Simms, 19, from Smethwick; and Nathan Antonio Martin, 24, from Smethwick, appeared at the city's magistrates' court on Thursday.

Their case was committed to Birmingham Crown Court for a hearing on 20 November and the four men were remanded in custody.

All five men are also charged with the attempted murders of Sophie Ellis, Cheryl Shaw and Leon Harris.

Jamelia's manager said the singer was aware of Mr Beckford's appearance in court, but would be making no comment.

College friends 17-year-old Letisha and Charlene, 18, were shot outside a party at a hairdressing salon in Aston in the early hours of 2 January.

Charlene's twin sister Sophie and 17-year-old Cheryl Shaw were also injured in the incident in Birchfield Road.