THREE teenagers and a man have denied murdering another man in a Southend street.

The four are accused of stabbing Hassan Mohammed Ibrahim to death in York Road, Southend, in July.

For the first time today, the Echo can reveal the name of one of the defendants charged with murder, who was previously anonymous.

Thamid Alam, 18, of Seaford Road, London, was previously protected from being identified due to child protection laws, but after turning 18 today can now be named.

He denies his part in the brutal murder, along with his brother Tajwar Alam, also 19, Seaford Road, London, Darren Quainoo, 19, of Holbrook Close, Enfield, and Danzel Bhebhe, 21, of Inverness Avenue, Westcliff.

No charges were put to another teenager charged in connection with the alleged murder, Simbarashe Zemura, 18, of Kursaal Way, Southend.

Another man, Vasile Iftinca, 40, Old Southend Road, Southend, did not appear for the hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday.

He and Zemura are expected to face charges at another hearing in March.

All six remain in custody. There were no applications for bail.

Mr Ibrahim, 26, from Peckham, London, was stabbed twice in York Road, Southend, on July 7.

He was flown to the Royal London Hospital for specialist emergency treatment, but he died the next day.

He had three brothers and four sisters and was a student at Westminster Kingsway College and hoped to study business at university.

The court heard the trial for those allegedly involved in the murder is expected to last six weeks.

It is set to start at Chelmsford Crown Court on April 7.