Two in court charged with sisters' murder

Two waiters appeared in court today charged with the murders of a teenage girl and her older sister in an arson attack on their family home.

Maleha Masud, 15, died in hospital four days after being injured in the fire at her home in Lessingham Avenue, Tooting, south London, in the early hours of June 21.

Her sister Nabiha, 21, suffered serious injuries in the blaze and died on July 25.

Rasal Khan, 18, of Earl Howe Street, Leicester, and Shihabuddin Choudhury, 20, of Coventry Road, Nottingham, appeared at Greenwich Magistrates Court accused of killing both sisters.

Waiters Khan and Choudhury are also charged with three counts of attempted murder against Rubina Masud, 53, Zain Masud, 22, and Junaid Masud, 17, who were injured in the blaze.

They spoke only to confirm their names and dates of birth and were remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on November 9, 2009.

A 14-year-old boy appeared at Balham Youth Court on July 2 charged with the murder of Maleha and four counts of attempted murder against Rubina, Zain, Junaid and Nabiha, who later died.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was also remanded in custody.