ONE of two Dursley brothers who was facing trial at Gloucester Crown Court on violence charges has died, a judge was told on Wednesday.

No details of the cause of 21-year-old Martin Sandell's death were given to Judge Jamie Tabor QC but it is understood he suffered a drug overdose.

At an earlier hearing Martin Sandell and his brother, Leighton, 25, both of School Road, had denied the charges against them.

Martin had pleaded not guilty to assaulting Reginald Ball causing him actual bodily harm on August 5 last year.

Leighton had denied affray and possession of an offensive weapon - a pocket knife - on the same occasion.

The two had appeared before the court on Monday when the trial was due to begin but Nick Fridd, prosecuting, was granted an adjournment because none of his witnesses had turned up.

Then on Wednesday he broke the news of Martin's death to the court - and then said he was offering no evidence in the case because the Crown witnesses, including Mr Ball, did not wish to give evidence.

"Since Monday, in fact, last night Martin Sandell has died," said Mr Fridd. "Obviously Leighton has spoken to his solicitors and is understandably unable to attend this morning.

"We are unsure of the circumstances of Martin's death but we are quite sure that the witnesses do not wish to carry on in this matter."

Mr Fridd said he would in due course get retraction statements from the Crown witnesses but he was happy to offer no evidence at this stage so that formal not guilty verdicts could be entered in favour of both brothers on all charges.

Judge Tabor agreed and formally found both men not guilty.