Harry Potter actress to appear at family death threats trial

A Harry Potter star will be called to give evidence at the trial of her father and brother accused of threatening to kill her, a court heard today.

Afshan Azad, 22, played Padma Patil, a classmate of the adolescent wizard, in the blockbuster Hollywood films based on the children's books by JK Rowling.

Her father, Abul Azad, 54, and her brother, Ashraf Azad, 22, both from Longsight, Manchester, are accused of making the threat on May 21 this year.

Ashraf Azad is also accused of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in Longsight on the same date.

Both men entered not guilty pleas to the charges when they stood in the dock at Manchester Crown Court today.

Richard Vardon, prosecuting, told the court the complainant, now living in London, will be giving evidence at the trial, scheduled to begin on December 20.

Both men were bailed on condition that they live at their home address in Longsight, do not contact Miss Azad or her partner, and do not travel to London.

Miss Azad's character was a witch who was in the same year as Harry Potter, played by Daniel Radcliffe, at Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry.