A 19-year-old has appeared in court charged with the murder of a man found semi-conscious in a garden near Deal.

Shane Penfold, of Adelaide Road, Elvington, spoke only to confirm his name during the brief hearing at Maidstone Crown Court.

Prosecutor Eleanor Laws said Penfold is alleged to have murdered 23-year-old Marc Brown on August 15.

Mr Brown was discovered with serious head injuries in a garden of a house in Great Mongeham.

Penfold was remanded in custody until his next hearing on November 17, when he is expected to enter a plea to the charge.

Judge Andrew Patience QC set a provisional trial date of February 16 2009.