TWO BROTHERS have been found guilty of murdering a Hampshire newsagent just yards from his home.

Samuel and Jonathan McKinley were found guilty after a jury at Winchester Crown Court reached unanimous verdicts in both cases.

Daily Echo:

Defendants were both unmoved as convictions for murder were read out with Jon just shaking his head slightly.

They now face life sentences on Friday for the murder of Choudhry Zishan.

Mr Zishan was beaten to death in the street by the drunken pair who attacked him as he left his home in Eastleigh to start work in the early hours of March 30.

During the two and a half week trial the jury heard how the pair launched a vicious and savage attack on the father of one who was repeatedly punched and kicked in the head.

The assault was heard and seen by several residents who had been woken by the noise of the attack.

Some spoke of seeing Mr Zishan of being kicked and stamped on with one attacker swinging his foot "at full pelt" at his head.

Parts of the attack were also captured in CCTV.

The newsagent was left with multiple injuries after he was left fighting for his life lying in the road on High Street. A post mortem found he had died from head injuries including brain injury and a fractured skull.

The two brothers then fled the scene to a friends house where they put some clothing in the washing machine before being tracked down and arrested The pair were arrested later that morning.

In evidence the pair admitted they had been drinking heavily on the night of the attack.

Daily Echo:

Sam McKinley (above), 25, of no fixed abode, told jurors that it was his brother Jon who carried out the assault and that he punched his brother in the face at one point to try and make him stop.

He said he never hit Mr Zishan and in the end gave up trying to stop the attack and walked away.

Daily Echo:

Jon McKinley (above), 23, of Devon Drive, also gave evidence in his own defence. In his testimony he told jurors that he did not intend to seriously hurt Mr Zishan but did admit punching him.

He added that he had little recollection of the events surrounding the alleged attack.

Jon McKinley said the attack was a case of mistaken identity as he believed Mr Zishan was the same man who had been pestering the brothers' sister in the Litten Tree pub earlier that evening.

In the end the jury dismissed both accounts given by the brothers and convicted them of murdering Mr Zishan.

Daily Echo:

The newsagent who ran shops in both Eastleigh and Southampton was a father to a young son and his wife was expecting their second child when he was killed.

In court Mr Zishan was described by those who knew him as a "fantastic father" and hard working man.

Senior Investigating Officer Detective Superintendent Paul Barton: “Choudhry Zishan was a family man and a businessman who was well known and liked within the community in Eastleigh.

“He'd been walking to work on the morning of Sunday, March 30, when he was approached by the McKinley brothers who tried to rob him.

“They'd been drinking throughout the night and things escalated quickly to the point where they threatened him and began beating him.“It was a senseless, brutal and sustained assault that Mr Zishan did not survive.

“The brothers used some of the money they stole from him to buy more alcohol from a nearby garage. Later, when they realised what they'd done, they tried to dispose of the evidence by washing their clothes.

“But thanks to local people who came forward with information, we were able to quickly piece together what happened, arrest the suspects later that morning and build the case against them.

“I'd like to thank everyone who saw or heard what happened that morning and who did the right thing by coming forward with information so swiftly.

“Alongside the dedication and hard work of all involved in the police investigation, both brothers have now been convicted of murder.

“Our thoughts are with Mr Zishan's family.”