The trial date for eight men charged with the murder of Neel Croos following a mass armed brawl in a Mitcham car park has been pushed back a week for "administrative" reasons. 

Mr Croos, 26, was killed after sustaining serious head injuries in the fight - which was rumoured to have involved up to 40 men armed with swords, machetes and axes - on November 23. He died in hospital on November 25. 

Two other men, aged 26 and 29, were also seriously hurt in the fight in Sibthorpe Road car park, Holborn Way. 

The trial was due to begin today, Monday, May 23.

However, due to administrative reasons it has now been pushed back to begin at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, May 31. 

Seven men have so far pleaded not guilty to murder and violent disorder, with the eighth man due to enter his plea on the first day of the trial. 

The defendants so far are: 

• Prashad Sothilingham, 25, unemployed, of Edgehill Road, Mitcham, charged with the murder of Mr Croos, the attempted murder of 29-year-old Jeyathpan Ganesalingham on the same day, violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon.

• Aranventhan Puventhiran, 21, a student from Stoneleigh Avenue, Worcester Park, is accused of murder, violent disorder and possession of a bladed article.

• The youngest defendant Sivakaran Ockersz, an unemployed 18-year-old of Heathdene Road, Wallington, is charged with murder, violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon.

• Gowrishanth Loganathan, 21, of Cambridge Road, Mitcham, is accused of murder and violent disorder.

• Mohanran Parimalanathan, 22, of Stafford Road, Wallington, is charged with murder, possession of an offensive weapon and violent disorder.

• Jerome Anton Jeyakumar, 23, of Framfield Road, Mitcham, is charged with murder and violent disorder.

• Visuparathan Dayaparan, 23, of Phipps Bridge Road, Mitcham, is  charged with the murder of Neel Croos and violent disorder.

• Vithusan Balamurali, 20, of Hawkes Road, Mitcham, is charged with murder. He will enter a plea at the start of the trial.