The jury has retired to consider its verdict in a murder trial held after a man was killed in a mass axe brawl in a Mitcham car park.

Justin Croos, 26, was killed in the brief but deadly fight in Sibthorpe Road car park, Holborn Way, on November 23, with four other men sustaining serious injuries.

Eight men in total were charged with the murder of Mr Croos, and attempted murder of Jeyathpan Ganeslingham, Mahinda Mahndaskaran, Mayuran Gunaretnam and Hassan Rahman, and violent disorder. 

However, on Friday, July 22, Judge Zoe Smith directed the jury to find three defendants not guilty of all charges against them.

July 22: Mitcham axe fight trial: Five men found not guilty of the murder of Justin Croos in Sibthorpe Road car park

The jury went out to make their decision this afternoon, Thursday, August 11. 

They must now deliberate on the fate of Prashad Sothilingham, 25, of Edgehill Road, Mitcham, Araventhan Puventhiran, 21, of Stoneleigh Avenue, Worcester Park, and Sivakaran Ockersz, 18, of Heathdene Road, Wallington, who still face all of the original charges.

Two other defendants, Mohanran Parimalanathan, 22, of Stafford Road, Wallington, and Visuparanthan Dayaparan, 23, of Phipps Bridge Road, Mitcham, are now only facing violent disorder charges.

The trial of all eight men began at the Old Bailey on Monday, June 6.