THREE men accused of murder at a New Year's celebration appeared in court to face the charge.

The body of 24-year-old Billy Henham was found at a derelict squat in North Street, Brighton in January 2020.

Police launched a murder inquiry, Operation Gatling, to investigate the incident.

This morning, three men were charged with his murder, and appeared before Brighton Magistrates' Court today (May 21).

The court clerk read out the charge, namely that the accused men murdered Billy Henham on January 1, 2020 at North Street in Brighton.

Alize Spence, 18, and Gregory Hawley, 28, appeared together in the dock for the first hearing.

They were represented by solicitors Andrew Bishop and Kelly Thomas respectively during the five-minute hearing.

Both men spoke to confirm their names, addresses and dates of birth.

Lamech Gordon-Carew was listed to appear in a separate hearing because of social distancing rules in the dock in court.

The 19-year-old, of Cheeseman Close, Hampton, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, also spoke to confirm his name, address and date of birth.

Jonathan Karani represented the Crown Prosecution Service and said the murder charges against the three men were indictable only, so have to be sent to the crown court.

Spence, of Makepeace Road, Ealing, and Hawley, of no fixed address, are set to appear along with Gordon-Carew for a hearing at Lewes Crown Court on Monday.

They were all remanded in custody over the weekend to await the next hearing.