Two men arrested on suspicion of murdering Daniel Young in Morden have been eliminated from the investigation.
A third man, Mark Loveridge, of Borough Road, Mitcham, has been charged with murder and the stabbing in Lewis Road, Mitcham.
He was due to appear at the Old Bailey on Monday but did not attend.
The hearing continued without Mr Loveridge, 37, who remains in custody.
He will appear again at the Old Bailey on April 14 to enter a plea, and a trial has been scheduled to begin on July 25.
Detective Chief Inspector Cliff Lyons, who is leading the investigation, said two other men had been eliminated from their inquiries this week.
However one of the men, aged 26, who was arrested on suspicion of wasting police time, will remain on bail while investigations continue.
Dan Young, 30, died from a stab wound in Kendor Gardens, Morden, on Tuesday, January 19.
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