THREE men and a teenager have been charged with murder after a father died in hospital following an attack.

Sadaqat Ali, Rafaqat Ali, Fazal Ilhai, and a 14-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, all appeared at Preston Crown Court yesterday and spoke only to confirm their names.

Sajed Choudry suffered a number of serious injuries in an attack in Rhyl Avenue, Blackburn, on November 27.

The 41-year-old remained in a coma for more than a week after having both his ears cut off, suffering a collapsed right lung and a bleed on the brain.

Mr Choudry underwent a 14-hour operation to have his ears re-attached using a skin grafts from his legs.

However his condition further deteriorated after he developed a large blood clot in his heart and he died, after being in hospital for 16 days, on December 13. Sadaqat Ali, 36, of Rhyl Avenue, Blackburn, Rafaqat Ali, 38, of Tenby Close, Blackburn, Ilhai, 62, also of Tenby Close, and the teenager had been charged with two counts of attempted murder.

Ahsan Choudry, Sajed’s older son, was also attacked during the same incident in November and had half of his hand cut off.

He also suffered cuts to his head.

However he was discharged from hospital last week but will undergo further tests in due course.

Shortly before arriving at Preston Crown Court yesterday the three men and boy were all charged with one count of murder and one count of attempted murder. An interpreter was used to assist the three adults in the dock, while the teenage defendant sat in front.

The public gallery was full during the hearing which lasted more than 90 minutes.

Sajed's daughter, Mariya Choudry, confirmed to the Lancashire Telegraph that her dad had died on December 13 and asked for privacy at this difficult time.

Speaking to the newspaper a few days after the attack, Miss Choudry said her dad was ‘loved and so many people cared about him’.

Sajed was unable to breathe on his own and was relying on a life-support machine during his time in hospital following the serious attack.

The case will be sent back down to Blackburn Magistrates Court after the new charges were brought.

The three men and boy will be back at the crown court on January 4 when they may enter a plea.

A provisional trial date has been set for June 18.