PROSECUTORS have dropped charges against two brothers accused of a double stabbing in Old Town. 

Montel and Nathan Burke pleaded not guilty in February last year to two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

The Nottinghamshire brothers were said to have stabbed attacked two men in a house on Victoria Road, Old Town, on July 8, 2019.

One man, 30s, suffered stab wounds to his head and body and another in his 20s stabbed in the shoulder. A trail of blood could be seen leading from the side door of a house on Victoria Road towards Union Row.

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Blood on the pavement in Victoria Road Picture: ADVER

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Police at the scene of the stabbing in Victoria Road, Old Town Picture: DAVE COX

Montel Burke, 23, of Deabill Street, Netherfield, Nottinghamshire, and Nathan Burke, 31, of Beaconsfield Street, Nottingham, both denied wrongdoing. 

Their trial was adjourned several times last year during the pandemic. 

And at a hearing at Swindon Crown Court on Thursday, prosecutor James Haskell confirmed that the Crown Prosecution Service was not pursuing the case. He said: “I have recently had a conference with those who instruct me. The outcome of that is the Crown have concluded there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.” 

He added: “Although this is a serious case and significant efforts have been made by the police to keep it on track, the reality is that that is not possible any more and it is for that reason the decision has been made to offer no evidence.” 

Judge Jason Taylor QC formally recorded not guilty verdicts. “It is clear to me everything that could have been done has been done and thought has gone into this. Under those circumstances I will direct not guilty verdicts be recorded in respect of both defendants.” 

The Burkes were not present at the short hearing. Don Tait appeared for Nathan Burke and Stephen Shay for Montel Burke.