FOUR men in their 20s have been charged with murder after the death of a 19-year-old security guard from Whitworth.

Gavin Hopley, of Horsefield Avenue, died on Friday night, a week after suffering a fractured skull in an attack by a group of Asians in Oldham.

Charged with murder and due to appear in court at Oldham today were Mohammed Foulmiah, 20, of Greenhill Terrace, Glodwick, Abdul Hafiz, 29, of Marlborough Street, Glodwick, Zuhair Mohammed, 22, of Park Road, Oldham, and Abul Hasham, also 22 and also of Park Road, Oldham.

Three other men appeared in court at Oldham on Saturday charged with violent disorder in connection with the incident and were remanded in custody until tomorrow.

Mr Hopley was with friends trying to hail a taxi in the early hours of Saturday, February 9.

He was beaten unconscious during the assault and died in North Manchester General Hospital.

Three other men appeared before Oldham magistrates on Saturday charged with violent disorder, assault causing actual bodily harm to a 17-year-old and grievous bodily harm to Mr Hopley.

Pongki Miah, 38, and Suleiman Hussain, 34, both of Glodwick, and Ruhel Miah, 21, of Coppice, were remanded in police custody until Tuesday.

Earlier Nizam Uddin, 21, of Sickle Street, Glodwick, was in court charged with wounding with intent and violent disorder. He was remanded in custody until Wednesday.

A 17-year-old from Glodwick, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in court charged with violent disorder in relation to an attack on a 16-year-old.

On the same day Zallal Uddin, 18, of Park Road, Glodwick, was charged with stealing a watch and chain from Mr Hopley. Both were remanded in custody until Wednesday.