TWO men charged with the murder of a Stockton man have appeared in court with one formally entering a not guilty plea.

Jordan Vaughan and his co-accused Kienan Johnson are accused of stabbing a 41-year-old man to death late last year.

John Wright was discovered fatally injured on Parliament Street just after 1pm on Sunday, December 29.

Vaughan, 20, of Harlow Crescent, Thornaby, and Johnson, 21, of Windsor Road, Stockton, have each been charged with the murder.

Teesside Crown Court heard Vaughan pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him during a short hearing to extend the pair's custody time limit.

Both were remanded in custody until December when they are expected to go on trial.

In January, Mr Wright's sisters, Jackie and Debbie, urged members of the public to come forward with any information to help the police.

The Northern Echo: Floral tributes at the sceneFloral tributes at the scene

They said: "No one deserves to die like that, absolutely no one. 

"We would urge anyone with information to come forward, we don't really no what has happened to our brother because the police can't say at the minute, but please come forward with anything that could help us."