Date set for Halloween party stabbing trial

Two boys are set to stand trial over the stabbing of five teenagers who were attacked at a Halloween party.

Police were called to a house in Park Road, Chandler's Ford, Hampshire, shortly after 22:30 GMT on 31 October, after an "unknown group" got into the party over a garden fence.

Two 16-year-old boys from Southampton appeared at Southampton Crown Court, one charged with attempted murder and the other with wounding with intent.

A provisional trial date has been set for 4 May 2027. Both boys, who cannot be named due to their ages, were remanded in custody.

Prosecutor Gemma White told the court a "large-scale investigation" was under way and more than 80 witnesses had been identified.

She said police were seeking to establish if those people were witnesses to what had happened.

The boy charged with attempted murder, appeared in court wearing a white shirt and black tie. He did not speak but nodded when the judge spoke to him.

The other boy, charged with wounding with intent, wore a white polo shirt and blue jumper and also acknowledged the judge when he addressed him but did not speak.

Both boys sat quietly in the dock while their parents watched from the public gallery.

They are due to appear back at Southampton Crown Court to enter pleas on 21 January.

Four other teenage boys were also arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following the stabbings.

Police previously said they had all been bailed with conditions, including locations they could not travel to and people they could not communicate with.

All five boys who were injured, three aged 16 and two aged 17, had been invited to attend the supervised party.

As of last week, one remained in hospital in a serious condition, while the other four had been discharged.

Barton Peveril Sixth Form College previously said two of those attacked were current students there.