THREE teenage boys have denied the murder of a seaman in an alleged gang attack in Hampshire.

Two 17-year-olds and a 15-year-old denied murdering Gregory Fernandes in an incident on the Waterside last year.

The 32-year-old Indian sailor died after the fight in Church Lane, Fawley.

Winchester Crown Court heard that his friend Pithilnaviram Vinod, 29, suffered serious injuries in the attack.

The trio also pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Vinod and violent disorder.

Another 15-year-old denied grievous bodily harm and violent disorder during the incident on October 20.

Remand A 14-year-old also appeared in court but his counsel Louis Weston said he was not yet in a position to plead. None of the boys can be named for legal reasons.

The three boys facing murder charges were all remanded in custody by Judge Michael Brodrick, the Recorder of Winchester.

The judge allowed a request by Mr Weston for his client to be allowed to attend secondary school, which cannot be named for legal reasons.

The 15-year-old on bail attends the school but teachers had said they would be unable to keep the two boys apart from two prosecution witnesses who are also pupils.

The judge said it was unfair to one of the boys to be excluded from school and for his education to suffer.

A four-week trial has been earmarked for Winchester Crown Court on February 23, 2009.