Three men appeared in court today charged with the murder of a 47-year-old man whose body was found in the ruins of a flat destroyed by an explosion.

Police launched a murder investigation after Leroy Burnett was found in the remains of a first floor flat in Crichton Street, Battersea, by firefighters on November 13, 2010.

A post mortem examination found that he had died as a result of head injuries.

Colliston Edwards, 37, and Andre Johnson, 23, of no fixed abode, appeared at the Old Bailey charged with murder.

Max Walter, 20, also of no fixed abode, faces a charge of arson and assisting with murder.

They have all pleaded not guilty to the offences.

The jury was sworn in and all three will go on trial tomorrow at the Old Bailey.