A man has denied killing 33-year-old Karl Swift who was found with serious injuries in a Halesowen street.

Dean Hartley pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and attempting to pervert the course of justice by making a false statement to police about the death of Mr Swift who died after being discovered in New Road, Halesowen on September 8th.

The defendant, aged 30, of Burnaby Crescent, Sheffield, was remanded in custody after appearing by video link at Wolverhampton Crown Court today and is due to stand trial at the same venue on April 18.

Hartley's father Dean senior, aged 51, from Chaucer Road, Sheffield, and Lee Ardron, 29, of Broad Inge Crescent, Sheffield, have also been charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice and have been bailed to appear in court at a later date.