FIVE people have denied murdering a man who was stabbed to death in a Dudley flat.

Jaskaran Kang, aged 24, from Handsworth, was pronounced dead at the flat above a convenience store in Stourbridge Road on January 6.

Reggie Salmon, aged 20, of Stourbridge Road, Dudley; Dontay Ellis, aged 18, of Central Drive, Lower Gornal and three 17-year-olds - who cannot be named for legal reasons - have all pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder.

They also denied a charge of manslaughter when they appeared before Judge James Burbidge QC at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Mark Heywood QC, prosecuting, said their trial was scheduled to begin in January next year at Birmingham Crown Court.