Teens accused of murdering man at nature reserve

Three teenagers have been charged with the murder of a homeless man who was beaten to death at a nature reserve in Tovil.

Another two teens – aged just 14 and 15 – were also arrested in connection with the killing of Razvan Sirbu and have been released on bail.

Alex Macdonald, 18, from Regency Place, Maidstone, and Jimmy Buckley, also known as Penfold, 19, of Capell Close, Coxheath, appeared via video link at Medway Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

They did not enter any pleas and are due to appear at Maidstone Crown Court today (Thursday).

Homeless Charlie White, 18, handed himself in at Maidstone Police station in Palace Avenue and was arrested shortly after midnight on Tuesday.

He appeared at Medway Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Wednesday) via video link.

Mr Sirbu, 21, was found dead at 7.15am on Sunday, May 7, in the Loose Valley Conservation Area of Tovil by a dog walker.

Macdonald and Buckley were arrested last Thursday, while the younger boys were arrested on suspicion of murder the following day.

Relatives of the murder victim were escorted to the site of the killing by police on Tuesday morning, where they laid flowers and lit candles.

Subsequently, about a dozen officers, assisted by a dog handler, conducted a further search of the area. An officer told a resident they were looking again for a murder weapon.

Mr Sirbu’s mother paid tribute to her only son last week, saying: “My only son Razvan was full of mercy and empathy; he would always want to help others in need.

“Razvan was very shy and very good. Razvan was very well behaved and listened to people intently. He had a lot of love from me and my wider family.Razvan was my only child, so he was spoilt by the whole family. He was also the only grandson to my parents.”