THREE men have appeared in court accused of murdering Mirfield man Josh Hirst.

Joe Church, 21 of Redlands Close, Mirfield, Nadeem Rashid, 21 of Lapwing View, Horbury Bridge and Arron Smith, 18 of Savile Street, Emley, all deny killing the 20-year-old.

Mr Hirst died of stab wounds after being attacked on Grove Street in Mirfield on August 3, last year.

The three accused, who all appeared in the dock at Leeds Crown Court, also all deny a second charge of possessing an offensive weapon, namely a knife, on Grove Street.

The men, who were all smartly dressed, were present as a jury for the four-week trial was sworn in. The trial was due to start yesterday but was delayed again for further preparations.

The Recorder of Leeds, Peter Collier QC, is due to start the trial today.

A fourth defendant, Kirstie Rainford, 22 of Springbank Drive, Norristhorpe, has admitted three charges of assisting an offender and will be sentenced once the trial ends.