A MAN has denied murdering a teenage footballer at a block of flats.

Mihal Dobrev appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday via video link from Chelmsford Prison. He is accused of killing Bulgarian Denis Petkov, 19, who died from a single stab wound to his neck.

Dobrev, 37, of East Hanningfield Road, pleaded not guilty to a single count of murder - claiming he was not responsible for the death of Mr Petkov. He will stand trial later this year.

The teenager died in the stairwell of his flat in East Hanningfield Road, Rettendon, on March 12.

A second man also arrested on suspicion of murder was released on bail.

The Crown Prosecution Service has been given one week to decide if he will be charged and brought before the courts.

Following the death of the 19-year-old his mother, Diana Petkova, paid tribute to her son, who moved to the area for work and to seek his fortune.

She said: “Denis was a promising footballer and ambitious sportsman who had attended The International Sport Academy in Sofia.

“He was a wonderful, good and happy boy who always had a smile on his face.

“He was loved by everyone and was the heart and soul of his group of friends.

“The whole community is grieving at the moment.

“Denis was my darling boy who filled me with pride and I am unable to describe how much I miss him.”

Paramedics were called to the Rettendon property after reports of a disturbance shortly before midnight on Saturday, March 11.

Despite their best efforts, Denis died at the scene shortly after.

An inquest was opened into the teen’s death ten days later. Senior Coroner for Essex, Caroline Beasley-Murray, noted that the cause of death was a stab wound, according to a post mortem examination.

Dobrev is due to stand trial at Chelmsford Crown Court on July 10. It is expected to last three weeks.