FOUR men have denied murdering private detective Daniel Morgan in Sydenham 21 years ago.

The 37-year-old father-of-two was found with an axe in his head in the car park of the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham Road on March 10, 1987.

The defendants include Mr Morgan's former business partner William John Rees, 53, of Weybridge, Surrey, who co-owned a firm called Southern Investigations.

Rees and co-defendants James Cook, 53, of Tadworth, Surrey, and brothers Glenn, 50, and Garry Vian, 48, from Croydon, pleaded not guilty to murder at the Old Bailey yesterday (October 22).

Sidney Fillery, 62, a former detective sergeant of Thule, Norfolk, pleaded not guilty to perverting the course of justice at a previous hearing and was remanded on bail.

All five are due to face trial in April.