AN 18-year-old man is due in court today accused of murdering an Iranian asylum-seeker last week.

The man, from Scotland, who was arrested in Edinburgh on Friday, has also been charged with racially aggravated assault and violent disorder.

Two Sunderland men, one aged 27, the other 23, have also been charged with racially aggravated assault and violent disorder.

All three, who have been held in custody since their arrests, are due to make their first court appearances this morning before the city's magistrates.

Peyman Bahmani, 30, who was living in a house for refugees in Peel Street, in the Hendon area of the city, was killed last Wednesday.

A fourth man arrested over the killing has been released on police bail without charge and a woman has been released, also on bail, pending further inquiries by Northumbria Police detectives.

Mr Bahmani was stabbed, apparently after a confrontation with local people in the street near his home.

The oilfield pipe fitter, who came from a wealthy Iranian family, was granted a work permit by the Home Office - he worked in a local restaurant - but had yet to be granted asylum status.

Mr Bahmani was planning to move to Brighton with his partner Sonia Voza, 50, where they intended to open a restaurant.

About 50 fellow asylum-seekers marched on the city's main police station, in Gill Bridge Avenue, in the wake of the tragedy, to demand better police protection from racist attacks.

Mike Hartman, of the Tyne and Wear Anti-Fascist Association, said he understood that the other residents of the house in Peel Street had moved elsewhere in the city.

"On Friday it was quite tense in the area and the police were moving groups of young lads along who were busy just gawping.

"We are not aware of anything happening over the weekend."

He added that far right parties The National Front and the British National Party had been leafleting homes in Sunderland and the surrounding area recently.

Police are still appealing for anyone with information about Mr Bahmani's killing to call the incident room on 0191-563 6180.

A SUNDERLAND man is due in court today following last week's killing of an Iranian asylum seeker.

Over the weekend, Northumbria Police charged the unnamed 27-year-old, who was arrested on Wednesday, with racially-aggravated assault and violent disorder.

The man, who is being held in custody, is dAue to make his first court appearance this morning before the city's magistrates.

Police also arrested a 23-year-old local man on Saturday in connection with the killing.

And they are still questioning an 18-year-old arrested in Edinburgh on Friday after getting permission from magistrates to hold him for a further 36 hours.

Another man arrested on Wednesday is still being held after police were given a further 24 hours to hold him.

A woman has been released on police bail pending further enquiries.

Pelman Bahmani, 30, who was living in a house for refugees in Peel Street, Hendon, was stabbed last Wednesday, apparently in a confrontation with local people near his home.

Mr Bahmani, an oil field pipe fitter who came from a wealthy Iranian family, was granted a work permit by the Home Office - he worked in a restaurant - but had yet to be granted asylum.

He was planning to move to Brighton with his partner Sonia Voza, 50, where they planned to open a restaurant.

About 50 fellow asylum-seekers marched on the city's main police station, in Gill Bridge Avenue, in the wake of the tragedy, to demand better police protection from racist attacks.

Mike Hartman, of the Tyne and Wear Anti-Fascist Association, said he understood that the other residents of the house in Peel Street had moved elsewhere in the city.

"On Friday it was quite tense in the area and the police were moving groups of young lads along who were busy just gawping.

"We are not aware of anything happening over the weekend.''

He added that far right parties The National Front and the British National Party had been leafleting homes in Sunderland and the surrounding area recently.

Police are still appealing for anyone with information about Mr Bahmani's killing to call the incident room on 0191-563 6180.