DETECTIVES have charged a young man with the murder of 16-year-old Sittingbourne boy Michael Chapman.

Lee Cowie, of Beechwood Avenue, Sittingbourne was charged with murder at around 5.30pm on Tuesday. Bail was refused and he is due to appear before Sittingbourne magistrates court today.

A 16-year-old local boy who was arrested on suspicion of murder on Saturday has been bailed to Sittingbourne police station pending further enquiries.

Michael died last Friday night following an incident at the upper playing fields at Gore Court Cricket Club at Sittingbourne. He was a pupil at The Westlands School in the town.