Three men plead not guilty to murder at Leeds Crown Court over fatal stabbing of Bradley Gledhill in Batley

Ahmed Karolia, 23, Usman Karolia, 19, and Raja Nawaz, 18, and two youths appeared in Leeds Crown Court today (July 23) over the death of Bradley Gledhill and the attempted murder of two other males.

Mr Gledhill, 20, was stabbed during a fight on Park Croft at around 10.30pm on Sunday, June 21. He was taken to hospital where he died of his injuries.

Two other males also suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries.

Ahmed Karolias and Usman Karolias, both of Lime Tree Avenue, Batley, and Nawaz, of Longfield Road, Heckmondwike, pleaded not guilty to murder.

The Karolias also pleaded not guilty to two counts of attempted murder.

The attempted murder charges were not put to Nawaz.

None of the charges were put to the two boys, aged 16 and 17.

A further hearing was listed for October 2.

At an earlier hearing, a provisional trial date had been set for December 7 with a trial expected to last three weeks.

Now that the youths have been charged and a sixth defendant is expected to be charged, a trial would be expected to last up to six weeks.

An alternative trial date of April 12 next year was discussed.

Judge Andrew Stubbs QC said a decision about the trial date would be made by the end of next week.

The defendants appeared in court via video link and were returned to custody after the hearing.