A BEXLEY man has been charged with murder following the death of a 61-year-old man in Charlton.

David Smith, aged 19, of Margaret Road, Bexley, appeared before Greenwich magistrates last Saturday charged with killing the man, who has not yet been named, on May 20.

He was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on August 29.

Police were called to Wellington Gardens, near the junction with Charlton Lane, Charlton, at 9.15pm, where they found the victim.

He was taken to the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, where he died the following day.

A post-mortem examination confirmed he had died from head injuries.

Two other people, a 19-year-old man and a woman, 17, were also arrested in connection with the death, and have been bailed to return to police in late June.

Police are treating the death as a homophobic incident and are appealing for witnesses to call the incident room on 020 8721 4855 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.