A fifth teenager has appeared in court charged with murdering 16-year-old Shakilus Townsend.

The suspect - who is also 16 - went before Sutton Magistrates Court where he was remanded in custody until October when he will appear at the Old Bailey.

Shakilus was beaten with a baseball bat and stabbed to death in south London last week.

Four teenagers have already appeared in court charged with his murder.

Tyrell Ellis, 18, of Springfield Road, Thornton Heath, was among the four suspects at Sutton Magistrates' Court.

He appeared alongside two youths aged 17 and 16 and a 15-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

During the short hearing the defendants spoke only to confirm their names and addresses.

The case was committed to the Old Bailey for a plea and case management hearing on October 16.

A sixth person, a 22-year-old man, has been bailed to return to a south London police station on a date in August, pending further inquiries.

© Independent Television News Limited 2009. All rights reserved.