Man denies murder after body found in garage fire

A man has denied murdering another man after the discovery of a body in a burnt-out garage in Worcester.

Police attended a report of a garage on fire on Surman Street, Worcester, in February and found a man dead inside.

David Jones, 34, of no fixed abode, was previously charged with arson over a fire at Unity House Community Hub on Stanley Road, which happened shortly after the garage fire.

He pleaded not guilty to murder at Worcester Crown Court on Monday, but admitted arson with reckless intent, assault with intent to commit robbery, two charges of assault by beating an emergency worker and a charge of attempted robbery.

He is due to appear at the same court on 9 October.

A second man Thomas Bowen, 34, of no fixed abode, is also charged with murder and is also due at Worcester Crown Court on the same day.

Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.