An 18-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to the murder of a teenager who died of gunshot and stab wounds.

Kieron Donaldson, of Aston Lane, Birmingham, entered his plea at the city’s Crown Court on Friday and will now stand trial in October alongside four other defendants accused of killing Keon Lincoln.

Four youths aged between 14 and 17 entered not guilty pleas last March to murdering 15-year-old Keon, who died in hospital after being set upon by a group of youths on Linwood Road, Handsworth, on January 21.

The youngest of the youths also denied possessing a handgun with intent to endanger life in Linwood Road, while the other three deny unlawful possession of a knife.

It is expected that their trial may last for up to eight weeks.

Remanding all five defendants into custody, Judge Francis Laird QC told them: “This case will now stand adjourned. Your trial will take place on the 5th of October.”