TWO BROTHERS appeared in the dock accused over their alleged roles in a hit and run murder and two attempted murders.

Iftekhar Khondaker, 34, is accused of killing Suel Delgado on Brighton seafront, and attempting to murder Azaan Khan and Raja Zakir Khan.

His younger brother Irfan Khondaker, 27, is accused of assisting him by ordering him a taxi in order for Iftekhar to return to London after the incident in the early morning of December 1, 2019.

A jury was told that the incident led to the closure of the A259 Marine Parade in Brighton for three days while the police began their investigation.

Both men deny the charges and appeared in the dock at Hove Crown Court wearing white shirts.

They stood as the charges were read out to the nine men and three women called to serve on the jury.

Suel Delgado from Crawley died in hospital after the incident, he was aged 20.

Flowers were left at the scene of the incident outside The Amsterdam Hotel in Marine Parade.

Jury members were told that barrister Kate Lumsdon QC will open the case for the Crown Prosecution Service tomorrow.

Judge Christine Laing QC is presiding over the case, and addressed the growing fears about the spread of coronavirus and safety in court.

Previously courts were made Covid-19 compliant with plastic screens separating jury members, and greater room given to allow a group of 12 to discuss and reach their verdicts.

Judge Laing QC said: “While you are all here in what we acknowledge are difficult circumstances, we are not oblivious to the news going on outside.

“I hope you agree that the criminal justice system is a vital part of living in our community together, and serving on a jury is a very important public duty.

“I hope the continuation of trial by jury, even in the difficult times of a national pandemic, is particularly important.

“Clearly the pandemic is not going to go away, it seems it is worsening at the moment, but I want to reassure you that considerable steps have been taken to ensure your safety.”

The judge said it is important that their focus is on the evidence in the case, rather than the pandemic.

She said that while there may be tougher restrictions, trials are expected to continue.

The Khondaker brothers, formerly of Caithness Road, Mitcham, London, deny the charges