A man accused of committing a murder in the early hours of New Year’s Day made a brief appearance at Maidstone Crown Court today.

Jurijs Popovs was charged after 21-year-old Dmitrijs Titovs suffered fatal stab wounds outside a block of flats in Henley Place, London Road, Teynham, near Sittingbourne.

Popovs, of Henley Place, will return to court on March 8 to enter a plea. A provisional trial date was set for July 1.

The 47-year-old, who spoke only to be identified through a Russian interpreter, was remanded in custody.