Five men have denied murdering a man whose body was discovered more than a month after he was last seen.
Michael Wheeler, from Yeovil, Somerset had not been seen or heard from since August 24, with concerns for his welfare raised on September 16.
His body was found by officers from Avon and Somerset Police who were searching a property in Yarlington, Somerset, on September 25.
Five men – Mark Roberts, 38, Angus Warner, 32, Reuben Clare, 18, David Garland, 39, and Jack Rance, 28 – all pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Wheeler on August 24 last year.
They also denied a charge of conspiracy to murder Mr Wheeler on a date between August 1 and August 25 last year.
The five defendants appeared before Bristol Crown Court for a plea and case management hearing.
Judge William Hart fixed a pre-trial review for March 21, while a trial has been listed to begin on April 28 before Mr Justice Linden.
They were all remanded into custody ahead of the trial.
