Waiters appear in court over girls' murder

Two waiters today appeared at the Old Bailey charged with the murders of a teenage girl and her older sister in a fire at their family home.

Maleha Masud, 15, and Nabiha Masud, 21, suffered fatal injuries in the blaze in the early hours of June 21.

Members of their family were also treated in hospital following the alleged attack in Lessingham Avenue, Tooting, south London.

Maleha died four days after the fire while Nabiha died on July 25.

Shihabuddin Choudhury, 20, of Coventry Road, Nottingham, and Rasal Khan, 18, of Earl Howe Street, Leicester, who are both charged with murder, appeared via videolink in court today.

They are also accused of the attempted murders of the girls' mother Rabina Masud, 53, and brothers Zain Masud, 22, and Junaid Masud, 17.

Both defendants remain in custody and will face trial on November 23.

A 14-year-old boy, who cannot be named because of his age, is also charged with the two murders and three attempted murders.

He has previously been remanded in custody but did not appear today.