A man denied committing murder in a Dartford kebab shop when he appeared at Maidstone Crown Court today.

Eddy Ives, from Gravesend but of no fixed address, also denied an alternative charge of the manslaughter of Ben Mahoney, who died after trouble broke out at the House on the Hill takeaway in East Hill on April 12.

Mr Mahoney, whose job was installing air conditioning, was knocked unconscious by a punch and died from head injuries early the next day in hospital.

Ives, 29, was due to enter pleas on Monday but the hearing was adjourned after he failed to get on the prison van.

He was remanded in custody and will stand trial on September 16.

At the time of his death, 30-year-old Mr Mahoney's family said in a statement: "Ben was always smiling and laughing, and that's how we will remember him.

"He was a fun-loving joker who never took himself too seriously.

"He was the life and soul of every party, and he will be sadly missed as a son, brother, uncle, nephew and cousin, as well as the friend he was to so many people."