A 16-year-old boy denied murdering a middle-aged man in Maidstone when he appeared at the town’s Crown Court today.

Wayne Chester, 50, is alleged to have died following a single punch in Week Street on September 29.

Police and paramedics were called to outside McDonald’s at 10.30pm following reports of a disturbance.

Mr Chester suffered a head injury. He was taken to a London hospital and put into an induced coma, but later died.

The boy, from Maidstone, is due to stand trial on April 9 next year.

Judge Jeremy Carey has called it “a case of utmost gravity”.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, spoke only to be identified.

Prosecutor Simon Taylor said a further neurological report had been obtained and was being considered by a pathologist.

The teenager was remanded in custody.