A mum accused of helping an alleged killer hide the murder weapon has been freed, after it was revealed she did it to protect her children.

Kelsie Murphy was charged with assisting an offender by concealing the knife after mum-of-three Samantha Murphy was allegedly stabbed to death by Thomas Allen in Margate in July.

But today, Phillip Bennetts KC told Maidstone Crown Court the Crown Prosecution Service is offering no evidence against her.

He said lawyers had reviewed the charge and decided important elements of the offence had not been revealed, including that Ms Murphy had told a friend she had moved a knife in her home "because she was concerned for her children".

"And in those circumstances the prosecution will offer no evidence," he added.

Judge Philip Statman then formally cleared the tearful 26-year-old, of West Dumpton Lane, Ramsgate, telling her she was free to go.

She left the dock and then sat with friends in the back of court to watch the judge and barristers make arrangements for the trial, which is expected to take two weeks.

Ms Murphy was stabbed to death at a home in Elfrida Close on July 16.

Allen, of Elfrida Close, has pleaded not guilty to murder and manslaughter.

Earlier, the 38-year-old attempted to change his solicitor and barrister.

But after listening to his request, the judge told him his present lawyers had already spent more than 30 hours working on his defence and had earmarked a potential KC barrister to appear at his trial, which is set for January 3.

Allen was remanded in custody.