Brothers deny funeral murder bid

Three brothers have denied trying to murder a man at a Suffolk funeral.

Robert Frankham, 45, of Watford, Hertfordshire, allegedly joined in with brothers Thomas and Sam in attacking Michael Willett in June last year.

Ipswich Crown Court heard Mr Willett, 38, of Grantham, Lincolnshire, suffered fractures to his skull at the traveller's funeral in Newmarket.

Thomas, 44, of Cranleigh, Surrey; Sam, 41, of Annan, Dumfries and Galloway; and Robert all deny attempted murder.

'Stood like soldiers'

Mr Willett, giving evidence via video link, told the court that he could not recall the exact details of the attack.

But he said that the Frankham brothers had lain in wait for him as he left the service.

"They were stood like soldiers with their arms behind their backs," he told the court.

Mr Willett told jurors that he "didn't particularly like any of the Frankhams".

The court heard there was "bad blood" between the families.

But Mr Willett denied fixing his evidence to frame the men, or exaggerating his account of what had happened.

When asked about Robert Frankham's role in the attack, Mr Willett said: "He joined in after Tom had hit me with a blade."

The court heard that Mr Willett was spoken to by police in hospital soon after the alleged attack.

Joseph Ganner, representing Sam Frankham, said to Mr Willett: "In hospital, you said, repeatedly I think, that you didn't know who did it."

But Mr Willett replied that he had not decided whether to report the attack at that time.

The trial continues on Monday.