Teenagers Deny Attack Over Noise
Two teenagers have pleaded not guilty to attacking a man after he was allegedly set upon for asking a group of people to stop making noise outside his flat.
Samuel Armstrong, 18, and Brandon Fisher, 18, both from Gosport, Hampshire, denied at Portsmouth Crown Court a charge of assault causing grievous bodily harm against 49-year-old Andrew Toseland.
Armstrong also pleaded guilty to a second charge of assault causing actual bodily harm against Mr Toseland's brother Robert.
Andrew Toseland has been in a serious condition in hospital since the incident, which happened on August 25 last year outside his flat in Forton Road, Gosport.
The two teenagers are to stand trial on April 15. A third defendant, a 16-year-old boy, had his case dismissed today by Judge Roger Hetherington.
Armstrong was remanded in custody while Fisher was released on unconditional bail.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has launched an investigation into how Hampshire police dealt with complaints of anti-social behaviour at the flats prior to the incident.
Mr Toseland's condition is understood to have improved in the past month after he was in a coma since the incident.