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Andre Bent stabbing: Teen denies murder as 8 men admit violent disorder

Eight men have admitted violent disorder on the night a student died outside a Maidstone nightclub.

But a 16-year-old - who cannot be named for legal reasons - has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Andre Bent, who died in August this year.

Andre Bent died near Gallery nightclub in August (21900628)
Andre Bent died near Gallery nightclub in August (21900628)

The teenager - who appeared in the dock at Maidstone Crown Court dressed in a dark suit - is also accused of attempting to murder three others.

South Bank University student Mr Bent died after being stabbed through the chest in the town centre.

Fighting broke out in Jubilee Square, Maidstone, on August 25 after rapper MoStack, real name Montell Daley, played a gig at the nearby Gallery Nightclub.

The teenager and four others are expected to go on trial in front of a High Court judge either at Maidstone Crown Court or the Old Bailey in London in February next year.

Three others, Nathaniel Small, 22, Darien Thompson-Cox, 21, and Rheo Lawrence, 29, have also pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Patrick Conceicao.

Police outside the Gallery Nightclub. Picture: Jim Bennett
Police outside the Gallery Nightclub. Picture: Jim Bennett

The 16-year-old has denied attempting to murder Joshua Robinson, Mr Conceicao and Lucas Baker.

Ali Aziz, 23 is also expected to enter a not guilty plea for attempting to murder Mr Robinson.

Ryan Lowe-White, 26; Small; Thompson- Cox; Mohammed Gelani, 23; Kaline Riley, 23; Jerral Johnson-Lowe, 26 and Aziz, Yusey Aweys, 19 all pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

Rheo Lawrence and the 16-year-old have pleaded not guilty.

Aweys denied causing GBH with intent.

In a separate case Dwight Leiba denies inflicting GBH on Heritier Sayela outside the nightclub and will be tried at Maidstone Crown Court in either April or May next year.

All the defendants come from Hornsey, Crouch End, Watford and other parts of London.

For information on how we can report on court proceedings, click here.

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.

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone

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