A FIFTEEN-year-old boy has become the fifth teenager to be charged in connection with an alleged gang attack that left one man dead and another seriously injured.

The teenager, from Fawley, has been charged with committing grievous bodily harm against Indian sailor Pithilnaviram Vinod and violent disorder. He appeared at Southampton Youth Court where he was released on bail.

Mr Vinod, 29, was with fellow crewman Gregory Fernandes on October 20 last year when they were allegedly attacked by a gang in Fawley.

It is claimed that the attack led to the death of 32-year-old Mr Fernandes.

In court As previously reported by the Daily Echo, four youths have already appeared in court charged in connection with the incident.

Two 17-year-olds and another 15-year-old all face charges of murder, GBH relating to the beating of Mr Vinod, and violent disorder. The youngest of the five to be charged is a 14-year-old, who faces charges of GBH and violent disorder.

Those four defendants were remanded into custody at an earlier hearing. All five will next appear at Winchester Crown Court later this month.

Hampshire police have confirmed that another youth, a teenage girl, who was arrested as part of the inquiry, has now been released without charge.

The case against the five defendants centres around an alleged incident in Church Lane, Fawley, while Mr Fernandes, from Goa in India, and Mr Vinod were enjoying an evening in the village while their cargo ship was docked at the refinery.

The youths are alleged to be part of a group that attacked the pair before a passer-by intervened and took Mr Fernandes back to the refinery, where he later collapsed and died.

Following Mr Fernandes' death a service was held at All Saints' Church attended by 300 people, followed by a candle-lit procession.