THE trial of two Kent men accused of murder has been transferred to the Old Bailey.

Trevor Brown, 39, and Alan Sykes, 25, were due to have been tried at Maidstone Crown Court this week but fears that the case would not finish before the Christmas break have led to a postponement.

Judge Andrew Patience, QC, asked that alternative arrangements should be made after hearing that around 15 witnesses were to be called on behalf of the prosecution, and that the total length of the trial could run into three weeks.

Brown, of Brookmead Road, Cliffe, near Rochester, and Sykes, of Johnson Avenue, Gillingham, are alleged to have killed 31-year-old Alistair Maddison in March this year.

The victim was stabbed in Magpie Hall Road, Chatham in the early hours of the morning while on his way to buy cigarettes with a young female friend. He was attacked at the junction with Newnham Street.

He was discovered outside All Saints' Primary School by a passing motorist and a police patrol car at about 3.40am but was pronounced dead in hospital some 30 minutes later.

Brown and Sykes have been remanded in custody to await their trial, which is expected to take place on February 19 at the Central Criminal Court. Both men have denied murder.