A man has appeared at Maidstone Crown Court accused of carrying out a murder in Tunbridge Wells.

Jonathan Hedges, 24, of Romford, is accused of killing Xhovan Pepaj, 25, on December 4 last year.

Mr Pepaj was found at his home in Caley Road, Tunbridge Wells, with multiple injuries.

Hedges is now the 12th man to face charges in connection with the death.

He appeared by video link to Maidstone Crown Court accused of murder and conspiracy to rob cannabis plants alongside 11 others aged between 17 and 51.

He did not enter any pleas and Judge Philip St John-Stevens remanded him in custody after hearing there was no application for bail.

They will all appear again in a week's time.

The defendants are: Donte Simpson-Palmer, 18, of Norfolk Road, Ilford; Ciaran Stewart, 19, of Curtis Road, Hornchurch; Mohammed Miah, 25, of Highfield Road, Romford; Nathan Turner, 29, of Myrtle Road, Brentwood; Zach Cutting, 24, of Roundhills, Waltham Abbey; Ray Renda, 21, of Sandringham Road, Pilgrims Hatch, Brentwood; Nathan Rainforth, 21, of Gloucester Road, Pilgrims Hatch; Bartosz Malawski, 27, of Hainault Road, Romford; Glen Hough, 51, of Larchwood Gardens, Brentwood.

A 17-year-old boy from Ilford who cannot be identified for legal reasons has also been charged.

Fabian Szymula, 20, of Callan Grove, South Ockenden, Essex, faces a charge of conspiracy to commit robbery.

The 12 are expected to stand trial at Loughborough Crown Court from January 12 next year and it is expected to last 10 weeks.

This is one of two 'super courts' set up by the government during the pandemic and in response to Covid restrictions.