A 17-year-old has been charged with killing his friend in a drunken car crash.

The youth, who was 16 at the time of the accident, has appeared in court over the death of Rui Rica five months ago.

Mr Rica, 19, from Worthing, was pronounced dead at the scene of the M23 crash on October 9.

A stolen blue Mini was involved in the accident between Pease Pottage and Crawley.

The car, fitted with false numberplates, was believed to have been taken just hours before the 5am crash.

The car hit the central reservation, spun across three lanes and came to rest on the hard shoulder.

Three people fled from the scene, leaving their dying friend stranded in the car. They were later arrested.

The driver was treated for minor injuries at East Surrey Hospital in Redhill.

He was later arrested, along with a 20-year-old woman and a 19- year-old man.

Each was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and failing to stop at the scene of an accident.

They were questioned before being released on bail.

A youth appeared at Crawley Magistrates' Court yesterday to face charges of causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by careless driving while drunk, aggravated vehicle taking, disqualified driving, driving with no insurance and theft.

He did not enter a plea to any of the six charges and was remanded in custody to reappear on April 22.

Mr Rica, of Mill Road, Worthing, was a bricklayer who had been a talented footballer for a team in Portugal before his family moved to Britain in 2005.

It is believed he was sitting in the front passenger seat of the car.

The force of impact flung him from the vehicle. Tributes to the dead teenager poured in on The Argus website within hours of his death.

Lauren Garrison from Worthing said: "Rui Rica was a caring and loving lad. I went out with him for five months and I'm going to miss him a lot.

"He will never ever be forgotten and will always stay in my heart.

Rui meant a lot to me and always will. RIP baby. Love you for ever."

Laura Pereira from Feltham said: "My Portuguese prince, I'm going to miss you so so much, the sound of your voice, your little Portuguese texts to me.

"I never thought you would get taken away from us all. Love you for ever until we meet again. Your Cinderella."

The northbound stretch of the motorway was closed for nine hours after the accident, causing tailbacks of up to ten miles through Handcross and Warninglid.

Drivers were diverted off the M23 at Pease Pottage, to rejoin at the Gatwick junction.

Surrounding roads in the Crawley, Haywards Heath and Horsham areas were also choked with traffic as motorists tried to find alternative routes.