A woman has denied murder after a man was found dead in a block of flats.

Alan Tomkins was found by police in an apartment building in Gun Lane, Strood, on July 23.

He had been stabbed between the shoulder blades.

Today, Nina Mercer, 42, of Gun Lane, Strood, appeared at Maidstone Crown Court via video link having been charged with murder.

She pleaded not guilty and will face trial on February 10.

Her co-defendant, Lee Robinson, appeared in the dock at the same court and faced charges of assisting an offender by driving Mercer from the scene and is accused of disposing of items relating to the alleged murder.

He also faces charges of theft and fraud, relating to Mr Tomkin’s wallet being stolen and another count of the alleged theft of another man’s credit or debit cards.

Robinson, 44, pleaded not guilty to all charges and will also face trial alongside Mercer next year.