Two brothers have denied charges, including attempted murder, relating to an alleged knife attack on a couple in their own home.

A pet dog, which was said to have been left covered in blood in the incident, had to be put down due to its injuries.

Angus William Hollingsworth and younger sibling Cameron Lawrence Hollingsworth both appeared via video link at a plea hearing Durham Crown Court, from the city’s nearby prison, where they are both held on remand.

It follows their arrest following an incident in which a man and woman both suffered stab wounds at an address in Consett, last month..

The incident was said to have happened before 10.30am at an address in Roseberry Terrace, on Sunday October 23.

Read more: Consett incident: Two men charged with attempted murder and dog put down

The man and woman were both taken to hospital for treatment and a Neapolitan Mastiff dog, which was also said to have been attacked, had to be put down by a vet as a result of its injuries.

Both 27-year-old Angus Hollingsworth, said to be of no fixed address, and 21-year-old Cameron Hollingsworth, whose address was given by the court as Elmway, in Chester-le-Street, are charged with attempted murder of the man injured in the incident, wounding the injured woman with intent, robbery of the male resident, of medication, damaging property, the dog, and having bladed articles, an axe, knives and a meat cleaver.

Although they were said to have admitted being present at the address, they both denied each of the five counts, including the taking of the knives to the scene.

The case was adjourned for a trial, estimated at the moment as between seven and ten days in length, to begin at the court on March 6.

Both were told they must submit their detailed defence statement to the court by January 20.

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