A mother and daughter accused of buying a plane ticket for a murder suspect have appeared in court.

Linda Harris and Rachel Woods are said to have chipped in for a trip for Billy Dole, Woods' boyfriend, in the days after he is alleged to have killed Peter Beale.

Dole, 28, was arrested a week later at Gatwick after returning from a trip away.

Medway Magistrates’ Court heard on Tuesday that Harris, 56, of Wisbech, Norfolk, also allegedly drove Dole, of Chorister Crescent, Hoo, to Stansted on Wednesday, September 19, the day after Mr Beale’s body was found slumped on Rochester Bridge.

Mr Beale, 39, of Sittingbourne, died as a result of stab wounds.

Harris and Woods, 31, also of Chorister Crescent, Hoo, did not enter pleas to a charge of assisting an offender (murder only) and were released on unconditional bail to attend Maidstone Crown Court for a pre-trial hearing on Tuesday, March 12.

Magistrates heard problems at the Crown Prosecution Service meant the two defendants’ solicitors weren’t served any paper work in advance of the court proceedings.

This held the case up and prompted chairman of the bench Colin Smith to tell the prosecutor: “Tell your colleagues we really aren’t impressed.”

The court was told the prosecution case centred around six text messages and both women were set to deny the charge.

Dole and co-accused Levi Webb, 21, of Station Road, Northfleet, deny murder and are set to stand trial on Monday, March 18.