All seven men who have been charged with murder and violent disorder following a mass armed brawl in a Mitcham car park entered not guilty pleas via video link at the Old Bailey this morning. 

Neel Croos, also known as Justin Croos and Adhavan Thanabalasingham, 26, died after suffering serious head injuries during the fight, which was rumoured to have involved up to 40 men of Tamil origin and involved axes, swords and machetes.

A 26-year-old man and a 29-year-old man were also hospitalised following the fight in Sibthorpe car park in Holborn Way on November 23. Mr Croos died in hospital on November 25.

Wimbledon Times:

The crime scene

Six of the men appeared at the Old Bailey on February 17, via video link from prison. However, they did not enter a plea as their barrristers argued that the prosecution had not provided enough detailed evidence yet. 

The seventh man, who was charged as recently as Thursday, March 3, joined his co-defendants this morning via video link to deny the charges. 

A trial is scheduled to begin on May 23. 

The defendants in the trial are: 

  • Prashad Sothilingham, 25, charged with the murder of Mr Croos, the attempted murder of 29-year-old Jeyathpan Ganesalingham on the same day, violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon. Mr Sothilingham, unemployed, of Edgehill Road, Mitcham, first appeared in custody at the Old Bailey on December 2.
  • Aranventhan Puventhiran, 21, a student from Stoneleigh Avenue, Worcester Park, is accused of murder, violent disorder and possession of a bladed article, after being charged on December 9.
  • The youngest defendant Sivakaran Ockersz, an unemployed 18-year-old of Heathdene Road, Wallington, is charged with murder, violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon. He first appeared in custody at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on December 18, after being charged the day before.
  • Gowrishanth Loganathan, 21, of Cambridge Road, Mitcham, is accused of murder and violent disorder. He was charged on December 18.
  • Mohanran Parimalanathan, 22, of Stafford Road, Wallington, was also charged on December 18 with murder, possession of an offensive weapon and violent disorder.
  • Jerome Anton Jeyakumar, 23, of Framfield Road, Mitcham, was charged with murder and violent disorder on February 10. 
  • Finally, Visuparathan Dayaparan, 23, of Phipps Bridge Road, Mitcham, was charged with the murder of Neel Croos and violent disorder on March 3.