A YOUNG man was remanded in custody by Ashford magistrates today accused of murdering 17-year-old apprentice mechanic Andrew Hodges, of Denness Road, South Ashford. Russ Francois Ballard, 18, was sent for trial at Maidstone Crown Court.

Mr Ballard lives at Hythe Road, Ashford. His solicitor, Nicholas Markendale, made no application for bail during a five-minute hearing.

Earlier, at the same building, coroner Rachel Redman opened and adjourned the inquest into the death of Mr Hodges who died after being struck by a car near Flatfoot Sams Fun Pub in Ashford in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Coroner's officer Dave Law told the hearing that Mr Hodges was a single man who lived with his parents.

Home Office pathologist Dr David Rouse, who conducted a post mortem, gave the cause of death as multiple injuries.

The coroner agreed that a second post mortem could be conducted following a request on behalf of the family.