A 21-YEAR-old Halesowen man denied killing a man in the town when he appeared before a judge at Wolverhampton Crown Court today.

Unemployed Nidal Alboraiki pleaded not guilty to murdering 36-year-old Benjamin Morse on May 1 this year.

Alboraiki, of Foxhunt Road, further denied a charge of perverting the course of justice by seeking to dispose of a Vauxhall Corsa motor vehicle.

Mr Morse, a labourer, who lived in Yew Tree Road, Halesowen, died after being struck by a car in Cherry Street.

Ahmed Alboraiki, 19, also of Foxhunt Road, also denied perverting the course of justice by disposing of a mobile telephone belonging to Nidal Alboraiki.

The two men were remanded in custody by judge James Burbidge QC until October 16 when their trial is scheduled to begin.

Richard Atkins QC, prosecuting, told the court he expected the trial to go into a third week.

An application for bail by James Dunston on behalf of Ahmed Alboraiki was rejected by the judge. He was told he must remain at HMP Brinsford with Nidal Alboraiki, remanded to HMP Birmingham.

On the same day as the court hearing, hundreds of people turned Halesowen into a sea of colour as they celebrated the life Benjamin.

Dressed in their favourite football team shirts – mourners turned out to St John’s Church in their droves to pay their last respects to the popular Arsenal supporter.