Trio charged over killing
Wayne Chester’s death comes less than five months after homeless Romanian Razvan Sirbu was killed in the Loose Valley Conservation Area.
The 21-year-old’s body was found at around 7.15am on May 7 by a member of the public and police sealed off the entire area.
Officers began an investigation into Mr Sirbu’s death and 18-yearolds Charlie White and Alex Macdonald, along with Jimmy Buckley, 20, were charged with his murder.
A post mortem found he died from ‘blunt force trauma’ to the head and body.
White, previously of Quarry Road, Maidstone, and Macdonald, of Regency Place, Maidstone, both denied the charge during a hearing at Maidstone Crown Court in July.
Buckley, of Capell Close, Coxheath, appeared in the dock but was not asked to enter a plea at the request of his lawyer.
A trial date has been set for December 12. A pre-trial review will be held on November 24. All three were remanded in custody.
Originally from Lasi in Romania, Mr Sirbu was thought to have previously lived in the Gravesend area and been an agency worker for 24-7 Employment Solutions.
He had been a visitor to Maidstone Day Centre in Knightrider Street and locals said he had been living in the tent on Tovil Hill close to the busy B2010.
Two boys, aged 14 and 15, were also arrested in connection with the incident but were released pending further inquiries.