A 27-year-old man accused of murdering a friend by setting him alight is facing a retrial after a jury failed to reach a verdict.

The six men and six women reached stalemate at Maidstone Crown Court after deliberating for almost 28 hours over five days.

Daniel Fleming, of Hyde Court, Clarendon Street, Dover, denied killing Frank Coulter, 49, at his flat in Dalmatia Court, Marjan Close, Dover, on April 30 last year.

Mr Coulter suffered 60 per cent burns to his body and died a week later.

Judge Andrew Patience, QC, set a provisional retrial date for June 16 next year but said efforts would be made to hold it earlier. Fleming was remanded in custody.