Relatives of 'Potter' actress charged

The father and brother of an actress who stars in the Harry Potter series of films have appeared in court, charged with threatening to kill her. Afshan Azad, 22, has played the character of Padma Patil, a classmate of the juvenile wizard, in four of the hugely successful films.

Abdul Azad, 54, her father, and Ashraf Azad, 28, her brother, appeared before magistrates in Manchester on Tuesday following an alleged assault at the family home on May 21 this year. Both are accused of making threats to kill, and her elder brother is further charged with assaulting her sister, occasioning actual bodily harm.

The case was adjourned by magistrates until later this month, when it is expected to be committed to Crown Court for trial.

The actress, who has three brothers, was brought up at the family home in Longsight, an inner-city suburb of Manchester.