A 36-year-old Maidstone man has appeared in court to plead not guilty to murder.

Lance Colston, from Tonbridge Road, appeared at Maidstone Crown Court to deny murdering 55-year- old Jason Orwin earlier today.

He also denied a charge of manslaugher and to assaulting Richard McConnaghie on July 31.

Colston - who is represented by Oliver Saxby QC - will now go on trial at Maidstone on January 4 next year, accused of killing Mr Orwin, who sustained fatal injuries after an incident in Bower Place, Maidstone.

He was due to enter his plea in August but was too ill and the case was then adjourned.

Judge David Griffith-Jones QC is expected to preside over the trial, which will last up to eight days.

At an earlier hearing, a second man, Oliver Watts, 33, of Tonbridge Road, pleaded not guilty to assaulting Mr McConnaghie causing him actual bodily harm.

To read more of our in depth coverage of all of the major trials coming out of crown and magistrates' courts across the county, click here.

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