THE start of a trial at Maidstone Crown Court in which two men are accused of murder has been delayed by legal argument.

Michael Kemp, 31, and Lewis Scudder, 32, deny murdering Paul Rowlands who was last seen alive in Cecil Road, Sheerness, in September 2003.

Kemp, of James Street, Sheerness, and Scudder, formerly of Noreen Avenue, Minister, Sheppey, also deny conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

They are alleged to have concealed or destroyed evidence relating to Mr Rowlands’s death.

Scudder, now of Franklin Road, Dartford, has further denied assaulting Mr Rowlands, causing him actual bodily harm in August 2003.

A jury was sworn in today for the four to five week trial and it was due to start on Wednesday. Kemp and Scudder are on conditional bail.