FOUR people from Colchester have denied assisting an offender after a fatal stabbing by helping him dispose of items of his clothing.

Arjun Jadeja,18, of The Nook, Wivenhoe, Benjamin Gosbell, 20, of Gratian Close, Colchester, Olusola Durojaiye, 33, of Appleton Mews, Colchester, and a 17-year-old from Colchester, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on Friday.

Between December 15 and 21 last year the group are accused of helping a 17-year-old from Bury St Edmunds who is accused of murdering Daniel Saunders, 32, in Turin Street, Ipswich.

From a hotel room in Colchester which was rented under Durojaiye’s name, it is alleged the group assisted the teenager who has been charged with murder by disposing of clothing belonging to him.

They are also alleged to have helped to transport him to a caravan in St Osyth.

All four of the defendants denied charges of assisting an offender.

A 16-year-old from Bury St Edmunds also denied the same charge.

The 17-year-old from Bury St Edmunds denied murder but admitted a separate charge of possession of a bladed article.

All six defendants will stand trial together when they are brought back to court.

The case is expected to begin on July 10 and is expected to last approximately five weeks.

The 17-year-old from Bury St Edmunds, who also cannot be identified due to his age, was remanded in custody at a Young Offenders’ Institution until the trial.

Jadeja, Gosbell, Durojaiye, the 16-year-old from Bury St Edmunds and the 17-year-old from Colchester were granted conditional bail.

Judge Martyn Levett told them: “Any breach of any condition of bail or not turning up at court will lead to serious consequences and I can issue a warrant for your arrest.

“It follows that if you do not turn up a warrant will be issued and you will be remanded in custody until the trial date and beyond that, if you do decide not to turn up I have the power to try the case in your absence.

“That also means you if you are found guilty you might get an extra penalty for absconding.”

A post-mortem concluded Mr Saunders died as a result of a stab wound to the abdomen.