ALLEGED murder victim Mathew Hornsby will finally be put to rest, more than three months after his death.

Mr Hornsby, 25, died on April 3 after a fight in Leslie Close, Freshbrook.

Four men have been charged with his murder and are due to appear for trial at Bristol Crown Court.

Police have released Mr Hornsby's body, allowing his funeral and cremation to take place at Kingsdown Crematorium in Stratton St Margaret on Friday.

Mr Hornsby was found in Leslie Close, Freshbrook, after a fight.

Police said there had also been an earlier confrontation outside Freshbrook Community Centre.

Mrs Irene Hornsby, Mathew's mother, was today still too distraught to talk about the funeral. It is not known whether his sister Tina Jenkins will be travelling from South Africa for the funeral.

Speaking after his death, the 40-year-old said: "Mathew was a loving, caring brother. He was the best brother a person could wish for."

Mr Hornsby, of Holbein Square, Freshbrook, was born in Southfleet, Kent, but grew up in Swaziland.

A self-employed builder, he and his 17-year-old fiancee Shaley Winter were expecting their first child in November.

The four men in custody are Michael Ephgrave, 19, and his 42 year-old father Andrew of Holbein Close, Daniel Porter, 28, of no fixed abode, and Nicholas Sheppard, 35, of Godol-phin Close.

They have all denied murder.