A man will stand trial today accused of stabbing to death his identical twin brother in a New Year’s Eve brawl.

Plasterer Robert Cerqua, 31, is charged with murdering his twin, Chris, a carpenter, at their family home in Langdown Road, Hythe, last year.

He will take to the dock today at Winchester Crown Court, ten months after police found Chris fatally stabbed following reports of trouble inside the property.

His death came just hours before he was due to view a new flat with his girlfriend, receptionist Lisa Harfield.

The pair had just got back together having broken up in October and were planning their future , starting with a flat viewing on New Year’s Day.

As previously reported, officers swooped on the terraced house where Chris lived with his mum Denise and dad Peter, at about 9pm on December 31. They discovered Chris with stab wounds but despite the best efforts of paramedics to save his life, he died about an hour later at Southampton General Hospital.

The Hampshire Major Investigation Team launched a murder inquiry, and Chris’s brother Robert was arrested at an address in Totton, in the early hours of New Year’s Day, on suspicion of murdering his sibling.

At the time of his death, loved ones remembered Chris as “thoughtful” and “caring”.

The killing sparked shock throughout the Waterside community, with neighbours describing the Cerquas as “such a nice family”.

Speaking at the time, Brenda Smith, chairman of Hythe and Dibden Parish Council, said the death was “tragic” and “deeply regrettable”.

Remembering Chris, a neighbour added: “It’s terribly sad. The brother who died was nice, he would always say hello. This area is really peaceful and for that to happen makes you a little bit shocked.”

Another resident said: “We would always see his dad walking the dog. It’s so sad, he was so young. They are a really nice family.”