A MAN was stabbed to death in Basildon, a court has heard.

Ahmed Musse, 35, of no fixed address, was found unconscious with serious leg wounds in woodland near Sporhams, and rushed to Basildon Hospital in a critical condition last week.

He died the following day. An inquest into his death was opened and adjourned yesterday.

Hussain Ahmed, 23, of Bacon Street, London, Gary Goodwin, 36, of Princes Close, Laindon, Mohammed Ahmed, 23, of Jamaica Street, London, Abdul Salah, 20, of York Avenue, Middlesex and Jake Rowlands, 25, of no fixed address, all appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday charged with Mr Musse’s murder.

The five men, four of whom wore red prison-issue tracksuits, did not enter any pleas and spoke only to confirm their names.

A 16-year-old boy from Laindon has been charged with assisting an offender and was released on bail to appear at Basildon Youth Court on September 22.

The men will next appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on December 21 for a plea and case management hearing before a trial is due to take place on April 4.

They were all remanded in custody until the next hearing.