TWO men have appeared before magistrates accused of murdering 31-year-old Alistair Maddison.

Trevor Brown, 39, and Alan Sykes, 25, are charged with killing Mr Maddison in the early hours of Thursday, in Magpie Hall Road, Chatham.

Brown, of no fixed address, and Sykes of Carpeaux Close, Chatham, also faced charges of robbery when they appeared before Medway magistrates.

No applications for bail were made and the pair are now due to appear at Maidstone Crown Court on April 21.

Mr Maddison was discovered outside All Saints' Primary School in Magpie Hall Road, Chatham by a passing motorist and police patrol car at 3.40am, and was pronounced dead in hospital about 30 minutes later.

He had been on his way to buy cigarettes with a young female friend when the incident took place on the corner of Newnham Street.

Police still want to trace a car seen close to the scene at the time of the murder.

They would like to speak to anyone who knows the whereabouts of an old-style turquoise Rover 400 saloon car, registration number N733 VTF.

Det Insp Michael Morgan said: “I need the public to look for this car and let the police know where they see it.

“A car like this was seen close by at around the time of the stabbing and the driver may have vital information.”

You can call Kent police or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.