A man accused of stabbing a father-of-three to death will stand trial later this year after denying murder.

Kieron Nicholson, of Vicarage Lane, East Farleigh, is charged with killing 29-year-old Jamie Simmons on the Shepway estate in Maidstone.

Last month a court heard how the father-of-three lay injured outside his Maidstone home and said "I've been stabbed" just before he died on Monday, May 4.

His mother, Diane Simmons, has spoken of the devastating moment she saw her son pass away in Cambridge Crescent after paramedics desperately tried to save him, with other members of the family paying tribute to the "brilliant dad".

Road worker Mr Simmons had recently become a father for the third time when his fiancée Charlotte Muddiman gave birth to daughter Dolcie 16 weeks ago.

Himself and Miss Muddiman were looking to move in to a larger home.

Nicholson, 29, denied the offence at Maidstone Crown Court.

His trial is due to begin on October 19.

Another 29-year-old man from Maidstone was arrested on suspicion of murder and a woman in her 20s from the Tonbridge area was arrested in connection with the incident but was later released without charge.

The man was bailed and asked to return to the police station last week, where he was also released without charge.

An inquest into Mr Simmons' death opened last month, but was adjourned, subject to the police investigation.

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone