Three Oxford men have been cleared of a violent attack on a man in his home following a seven-day trial at Oxford Crown Court.

Anwar Ali, 19, of Cobden Crescent, Oxford, Sajad Tasib, 18, of Boundary Brook Road, and Rashad Ali, 22, of Howard Street, were all found not guilty of wounding Daniel Rodrigues-Lay with intent by a jury yesterday (February 6).

Judge Andrew Geddes discharged the jury after its foreman said he did not think, even if given more time, the jury would be able to reach a verdict on Rashad's brother Tahir Ali, 24, of Howard Street, who was also accused of attacking Mr Rodrigues-Lay.

Ian Morley, prosecuting, said he would speak to the Crown Prosecution Service and notify the court within seven days as to whether it would seek a retrial of Tahir Ali.

The jury, which was sent out yesterday morning, also found Anwar Ali not guilty of a separate charge of wounding Colin Tinto with intent outside the Jolly Farmers pub, in Paradise Street, Oxford.

During the trial Mr Rodrigues-Lay told the court he thought he was going to die after he was attacked by a gang at his Lake Street home in the early hours of June 25 last year. He was hit on the head with fire extinguishers and cut on his right cheek with a broken bottle.

The jury was shown CCTV footage of the gang arriving at his house.

The four defendants gave evidence in court to deny it was them on the video or that they had been involved.

The court heard Oxford University student Mr Tinto was hit on the head with a bottle and kicked as he lay on the ground on May 30 last year.

Anwar Ali denied carrying out the attack. When he gave evidence, he told the court he was at work at Tiffins Tandoori restaurant in Kidlington at the time.

Rashad Ali and Sajad Tasib had also been charged with wounding Mr Tinto but part-way through the trial the prosecution accepted there was not enough evidence against them.