Three men accused of assaulting Cashes Green shopkeeper Amo Singh and 15-year-old boy remanded in custody for a month

The remand follows a statement from their lawyer who was not ready to proceed further with the case.

Brothers Jonathan French-Bell, 27, and Stephen Randlesome, 19, of Victoria Drive, Eastington, and Benjamin Strange, 21, of Mitre Pitch, Wotton under Edge, are all accused of wounding Amandeep Cheema – known as Amo Singh – with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm on 26th March.

French-Bell and Randlesome are also charged with assaulting a 15 year old boy, who cannot be named, causing him actual bodily harm on the same date.

It is alleged that the boy, who was in a fish and chip shop in Queens Drive, Cashes Green, that night was initially attacked and Mr Cheema, who runs a nearby store, went to his aid.

At Gloucester Crown Court today (Friday, May 12) judge Michael Cullum and the defence solicitor, Sarah Jenkins, watched CCTV footage of the incident behind closed doors before the three defendants were brought into the dock.

Mrs Jenkins said she had only just been instructed by the defendants and she was not yet fully briefed in the case.

It was likely there would be a conflict of interests between two of the defendants and one that one would have to be represented by a different lawyer at future hearings, she said.

It is alleged that Mr Singh was hit with crowbars and that a car was driven into him at speed and ran over him as he lay on the ground.

He suffered a head wound which required stitches, bruises all over his body, and needed two metal plates inserted in a broken wrist.

At today's hearing judge Michael Cullum said he was not happy to take pleas from the defendants given that Mrs Jenkins was new to the case and that one of the defendants may have different representation at trial.

He adjourned today's plea and management case to Friday, June 9 and remanded all three defendants in custody till then.

The trial, scheduled to last six days, was fixed for Monday, October 9.