TWO brothers have denied murdering a Hampshire newsagent who died just three months before his widow was due to give birth to his second child.

Samuel McKinley, 25, and Jonathan McKinley, 22, both of no fixed abode, pleaded not guilty to murdering Eastleigh shopkeeper Choudhry Zishan at a hearing at Winchester Crown Court yesterday.

Mr Zishan was allegedly killed just outside his store in High Street, Eastleigh, as he set off to collect the Sunday newspapers for his many customers.

As previously reported, paramedics tried to save the popular newsagent at the scene before rushing him to Southampton General Hospital, where he died from head injuries.

Mr Zishan ran Newsmarket and next door shop Once Upon A Party in Eastleigh, plus Southampton newsagents Isaacs News in Queens Way and Victory News in High Street, where he was also popular with customers.

The 35-year-old cricket fan, who has a five year old son, lived above Newsmarket with wife Sabina, 30.

The case has been adjourned until July 25 for a case management hearing with a trial expected to be heard later in the year.

Both were remanded into custody.

The case continues.