Not guilty pleas have been entered over the alleged murder of a man whose half-naked body was found on a beach in Sheppey.

Mark Terry, his son Matthew Terry, Jamie West, Christopher Bones, and a 16-year-old teenager who cannot be identified all denied murdering Gary Pocock on August 7.

Mark and Matthew Terry, Bones and the unidentified youth also denied perverting the course of justice by making two false statements between August 9 and 14.

Mark Terry’s wife Lisa denied perverting the course of justice by telling a witness to withhold information from police between August 6 and 21.

The body of 34-year-old Mr Pocock was discovered on the beach at Warden Bay Road, Leysdown. He is believed to have died from head injuries.

The trial will start on February 19 next year and is expected to last up to six weeks.

Mark Terry, 44, and Matthew Terry, 20, both of Grantham Road, Manor Park, east London, Jamie West, 19, of Cliff View Gardens, Warden, Christopher Bones, 20, of Dorothy Gardens, Dagenham, Essex, and the other teenager, from Sheerness, were remanded in custody.

Conditional bail was continued for Lisa Terry, 32, also of Grantham Road, Manor Park.