The trial of three men and three women accused of the murder of a 44-year-old man has been halted.

Judge Richard Foster discharged the jury at St Albans Crown Court on Monday in the case of the killing of Vishal Gohel for legal reasons.

Six defendants deny the murder and manslaughter of Mr Gohel, 44, at his home in High Street, Bushey, in the early hours of January 23 this year.

They also deny conspiracy to rob on or before January 23.

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Watford Observer: Vishal Gohel. Photo via Hertfordshire PoliceVishal Gohel. Photo via Hertfordshire Police

The three male defendants are Tevin Leslie, 21, of Hurst Street, Brixton, Sakeen Gordon, 20, of Uxbridge Road, Ealing, and Brandon Browne, 21, of Laburnham Road, Rochester, Kent.

The three female defendants are Yarley Georgia Bruce-Annan, 20, of Harts Lane, Tiana Edwards Hancock, 18, of Fresh Wharf Road, and Faith Hoppie, 21, of Blake Avenue – all in Barking in east London.

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Watford Observer: A forensic tent and police vehicles at Mr Gohel's address in JanuaryA forensic tent and police vehicles at Mr Gohel's address in January (Image: Newsquest)

A new trial date is fixed for May 15 next year.

The court previously heard Mr Gohel’s body was discovered on the floor of his bedroom by a neighbour.

A post mortem examination showed Mr Gohel suffered severe blows to his head and brain damage, as well as a fractured voicebox which was consistent with prolonged forceful squeezing of the neck.

Mr Gohel’s cause of death was asphyxia combined with a brain injury.

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