THE trial of two brothers accused of stabbing a shopkeeper to death has collapsed due to lack of evidence.

Sivaperakash Supramaniam, 33, was knocked to the floor with a metal bar, kicked, punched and stabbed six times in the chest by a gang of youths in Harrow Road, Wembley.

Andrew Grant, 28, and Shaun Grant, 25, of Elthorne Way, Kingsbury, were charged with the murder after Pastor Desmond Hall, an eye witness, placed them at the scene of the crime.

But after Mr Hall gave evidence at the Old Bailey, the prosecution offered no further evidence, and Judge Peter Rook QC ordered not guilty verdicts to be entered, and the brothers were released today.

Both brothers had denied the murder charge.