Ten people are expected to go on trial later this year accused of murdering a 25-year-old man in Tunbridge Wells.

It follows the fatal stabbing of Xhovan Pepaj, who was discovered on Caley Road at 3.15am on December 4, last year.

Now a 17-year-old from Ilford - who can't be named- and seven others have appeared at Maidstone Crown Court to enter not guilty pleas to murder and manslaughter.

The eight also denied being part of a conspiracy to rob Mr Pepaj of cannabis plants.

They are: Ciaran Stewart, 18, of Curtis Road, Hornchurch; Zach Cutting, 23, of Roundhills, Waltham Abbey; Ray Renda, 21, of Sandringham Road, Pilgrims Hatch, Brentwood; Nathan Rainforth, 20, of Gloucester Road, Pilgrims Hatch; Nathan Turner, 28, of Myrtle Road, Brentwood; Donte Simpson-Palmer, 18, of Norfolk Road, Ilford and Mohammed Miah, 25, of Highfield Road, Romford.

All eight were remanded into custody until next month.

Two more, Glen Hough, 51, of Kings Road, Brentford and Bartosz Malawski, 21, of Mitchem Road, Croydon, who appeared in the dock, are expected to be charged with murder later this month.

Neither were required to enter pleas but are expected to return to court next month when a Polish interpreter will be present for Malawski.

The trial is expected to begin on October 3 and is likely to take up to 10 weeks and the prosecution will be led by Oliver Saxby QC.

A High Court judge will be assigned the trial which may now be heard at a new "super court" at Loughborough or Manchester - designed to hold cases involving many defendants.

The court was told that the family of Mr Pepaj is still waiting for his body to be released to enable them to carry out funeral arrangements.

Tributes were paid to Xhovan Pepaj following his death last year.

One friend wrote: "May your soul rest in peace, our friend and brother."

While another added: "Condolences to the family. May his soul rest in peace."

A third man commented: "Unbelievable. Sincere condolences to the family and relatives. Christ put him in his paradise."