A man accused of murder failed to arrive in court to plead today after suffering a bout of illness.

Lance Colston, 36, who is on remand at Elmley Prison, was expected to enter his plea to the killing of Jason Orwin.

But hours before he was due at Maidstone Crown Court he called his lawyer Christopher Wray saying he was too ill to attend.

His barrister Oliver Saxby QC told Judge Philip Statman that Colston said he was suffering from sickness and diarrhoea but that he will plead not guilty to murder and will claim self defence.

Colston, of Tonbridge Road, Maidstone is accused of killing 55-year-old Mr Orwin, who sustained fatal injuries in an incident in Bower Place, Maidstone on July 31 .

A second man, Oliver Watts, 33, of Tonbridge Road has also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Richard McConnaghie causing him actual bodily harm in connection with the incident.

The trial, in front of Judge David Griffith-Jones QC, is expected to begin on January 4 and last for up to seven days.

Colston is expected to appear in person at a hearing in December when he will formally enter his plea.

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