A man accused of assisting an offender in relation to a fatal shooting of a Dartford man has appeared in court.

Lewis Wickenden, 25, of Overy Street in the town, only spoke to confirm his name during the brief preliminary hearing at Maidstone Crown Court today.

Wickenden is alleged to have assisted his partner, Michaela Sargeant, of the same address.

The 24-year-old has been charged with the murder of 32-year-old Kevin McKinley, of Louvain Road, Stone.

The father-of-three was shot in Merryweather Close, Dartford, on February 12 and died at Darent Valley Hospital.

Floral tributes at the scene of a shooting that killed Kevin McKinley in Dartford

Wickenden is also charged with firearms offences in relation to possessing a semi-automatic single-barrel shotgun and shotgun cartridges without a firearms certificate.

High Court Judge Mr Justice Nicol was told the two cases are expected to be joined and a plea and case management hearing for both defendants will be held on April 19.

Wickenden was remanded in custody until that date.

Sargeant appeared at Maidstone Crown Court on February 19 and was also remanded in custody. A provisional trial date of August 5 was set on that occasion.