by Julia Roberts

A jury has been sworn in to hear the murder trial of two Ashford men alleged to have killed university student Ben Neilson.

The six men and six women are expected to sit for up to four weeks at Maidstone Crown Court.

Zion Covey, 21, of Lynsted Close, Stanhope, and Gareth Powell, 20, of Bensted, South Ashford, deny murdering 21-year-old Mr Neilson on April 27. They also pleaded not guilty to Mr Neilson's manslaughter.

Mr Neilson, of Essella Road, Willesborough, died a week after being seriously injured in Ashford town centre.

The former Norton Knatchbull School pupil had been home for the Easter holidays from Northumberland University, where he was studying for a degree in quantity surveying.

The facts of the case will be opened and evidence heard from Tuesday.