Two women who are alleged to have bought a plane ticket for a murder suspect appeared at Maidstone Crown Court on Tuesday.

Linda Harris and Rachel Woods are accused of assisting an offender, Billy Dole, in the days after he killed Peter Beale.

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

Woods, 31, of Chorister Crescent, Hoo, denied the charge and will stand trial on November 11.

Harris, 56, of School Road, Marshland St James, Wisbech, Norfolk, was not asked to enter a plea.

The two women are alleged to have driven Dole, also of Chorister Crescent, Hoo, to Stansted Airport on Wednesday, September 19, the day after Mr Beale’s body was found on Rochester Bridge.

Mr Beale, 39, from Sittingbourne, died from stab wounds.

Bail was continued for Harris and Woods.

Dole has admitted murder and will be sentenced after the trial of co-accused Levi Webb, 21, of Station Road, Northfleet, who denies the charge and will stand trial on Monday, March 18