A Rock Ferry man denied murdering another man who died after a stabbing incident.

Dennis O'Neill is accused of murdering 38-year-old James Byrne, who was found with serious stab wounds in Old Chester Road on September 22 ,near the Fairfield Hotel. He died in hospital the following morning.

O'Neill, 47, of Old Chester Road, pleaded not guilty at Liverpool Crown Court and was further remanded in custody to await his trial beginning on March 19.

Also before Recorder of Liverpool, Judge Clement Goldstone, QC, was Steven Johnson, who denied attempting to pervert the course of justice allegedly involving "mopping up blood at the scene of an offence, approaching a potential eye witness and harbouring an offender."

Johnson, 45, also of Old Chester Road, Birkenhead, was also further remanded in custody until the trial on March 19. Their trial is expected to last seven to ten days.