Hassocks Murder - Man In Court

A man has appeared in court charged with murdering a Danish tattoo artist.

Kayden Smith, 27, of Belmont Close, Hassocks, West Sussex, is accused of stabbing 52-year-old tourist Jan Jensen last week.

Mr Jensen was found dead at a flat in Belmont Close on Thursday. A post-mortem examination found he had suffered a stab wound to the chest.

Smith was remanded in custody during a preliminary hearing at Lewes Crown Court today and will next appear at the same court for a plea and case management hearing on October 19.

Sussex Police said Mr Jensen, from Aalborg, Denmark, was visiting the UK and had recently become friendly with Smith.

Following his death, Mr Jensen's family said: "We, as Jan's family, still struggle with accepting the fact that he has died under terrible circumstances.

"We are struggling with our grief and would appreciate it if you could give us time and peace to cope with the fact that our beloved son, brother, father and grandfather is no longer with us.''

A police spokesman said detectives had been in contact with the Danish consulate, which has offered support to the family.