The youths, who are accused of killing 19-year-old Shawn Seesahai in the East Park area of Wolverhampton earlier this week, spoke only to confirm their personal details.

The 10-minute hearing took place at Birmingham Magistrates' Court before district judge Graham Wilkinson.

Flanked by three dock officers, the boys, dressed in a casual zip-up jumper and a hoodie, listened as their lawyers confirmed they would both deny the charges against them.

As well as a count of murder, they face a second charge alleging they were in possession of "an article which had a blade or was sharply-pointed, namely a machete" without lawful authority.

After checking they could hear the proceedings, the judge told the young accused: "This is going to be a really short hearing.

"As your lawyers will have told you, because you are charged with murder this court cannot consider bail.

"Today the only option will be to remand you into what's called youth detention.

"Your lawyers have properly identified that you will both in due course be denying the murder charge."

Both boys, who cannot be named because of their age, were ordered to appear again at Wolverhampton Crown Court on 20 November.

As the pair were led away after the hearing, they both briefly waved to relatives sitting in the public gallery.

No relatives of Mr Seesahai, who is believed to have come to the UK in April this year, were present for the hearing.

Mr Seesahai died at the scene after being found stabbed on Stowlawn playing fields at around 8.30pm on Monday, 13 November.

In a statement previously released through West Midlands Police, the victim's mother described her son as a "courageous, compassionate and confident young soul", with "future plans and ambitions".

"He cared dearly about his family and friends and he absolutely loved to help people. He was a generous person and had a good personality," she said. "We will always have him in our hearts."

The force said it had increased dedicated patrols in the area following the tragedy.