A second man charged with murder after a body was discovered in a house in Margate was unable to appear in court on Wednesday as he was receiving hospital treatment.

Klaudijus Klimanskis, of Athelstan Road in the town, is being held in prison in Chelmsford, Essex, where he was said to have suffered an injury to his hand.

His co-accused, Aurimas Vilius, of Cornwall Gardens, appeared at Maidstone Crown Court on Monday by video link with Elmley Prison on the Isle of Sheppey.

They are both alleged to have killed 38-year-old Edvardas Barscevicius after his body was found in Ethelbert Terrace on Monday, July 3.

They have also been charged with assault on another man in connection with the incident.

Vilius, 24, who was assisted by a Russian interpreter, and Klimanskis, 41, will both enter pleas on July 31.

Judge Adele Williams has set a preliminary trial date for January 22 next year at either Maidstone Crown Court or Canterbury Crown Court.

A 54-year-old man has been released without charge and a 35-year-old man was released pending further inquiries.

But prosecutor Philip Bennetts QC said it was unlikely anybody else would be charged in connection with the alleged murder.