A MAN and a teenager appeared at Maidstone Crown Court on three murder charges following a fire in Chatham.

Sam Benn, 20, of no fixed address, sat in the dock and a 16-year-old, from Gillingham, was seen over a TV link to Feltham young offenders’ institution.

They are accused of the murders of Rikki Sheehan, 27, her two-year-old son Charlie, and Paul Arnold, 34, who died when the fire tore through the Blaze restaurant in Chatham High Street on March 18.

Benn, wearing a black T-shirt and jeans and the teenager, wearing a grey sweatshirt and sitting with his arms folded, were remanded in custody. They are due to return to court on June 2 when they are expected to enter pleas.

Judge Warwick McKinnon ordered that the youth should not be identified because of his age.