A 14-YEAR-OLD boy accused of murder has appeared before magistrates in Swindon.

The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, entered the dock wearing a grey sweatshirt and grey joggers, accompanied by two security guards, and spoke only to confirm his personal details.

Kate Prince, prosecuting, claims that the boy and an older man - both carrying machetes - cycled up to 18-year-old Owen Dunn on Mazurek Way at around 1.30pm on Sunday.

It is alleged that the defendant took a knife out of his waistband and stabbed Owen in the armpit once. The knife is said to have hit his heart, fatally wounding him.

The boy and the adult then cycled away. Owen tried to leave on his own bike but fell to the ground.

The murder charge is too serious for Swindon Magistrates' Court to deal with, and so this first hearing's main aim was to determine where the defendant should be remanded before his next appearance, which will be at Bristol Crown Court on Tuesday.

Magistrates cannot grant bail in these circumstances.

The options available were for the boy to be remanded under the care of the local authority or in a youth detention centre.

Kare Prince argued for the latter due to fears for the boy's safety, and magistrate Linda Raine agreed.

As well as murder, the boy has also been charged with possession of an offensive weapon in a private place and possession of Class A and Class B drugs. He was not asked to enter a plea to any charge.