THREE teenagers accused of the crossbow murder of a 30-year-old father denied the charge when they appeared at Maidstone Crown Court today.

Daniel Bibby, 18, and two youths, aged 15 and 17, are alleged to have killed Wayne Phillips, of St Edmunds Road, Dartford, on March 26.

All three also pleaded not guilty to affray on that date and the 15-year-old and 17-year-old, neither of whom can be identified for legal reasons, denied a further charge of affray on March 25.

Mr Phillips, 30, was found at a flat in Patterson court after a crossbow bolt pierced his heart. He died in Darent Valley Hospital.

Judge Warwick McKinnon ordered that the trial, expected to last three weeks, should start on October 25.

Mr Bibby, of Welling High Street, the 15-year-old, also from Welling, and the 17-year-old, from Sidcup, were remanded in custody.