A jury has been discharged in the trial of a man accused of trying to kill two mechanics who were wounded in a motorcycle drive-by shooting.

The decision was taken today due to the ill health of Judge Charles Byers, who is trying the case at Maidstone Crown Court.

Adam Green, 26, of Hards Town, Chatham, denies attempting to murder Kurdish men Dara Shikah and Nabil Kheder on April 13 2012.

His heavily-pregnant sister Melissa Green, 22, of Lord Duncan Court, Duncan Road, Gillingham, denies perverting the course of justice by providing him with a false alibi.

Their brother Steven Green, 28, of Luton Road, Chatham, has been found unfit to plead to a perverting charge and a jury will just have to decide whether he "did the act".

Mr Shika and Mr Kheder suffered leg wounds when shot at a yard in Railway Street, Gillingham.

Judge Jeremy Carey told the jury of seven men and five women that he would have to discharge them "in most unusual circumstances".

"It is wholly unsatisfactory and regrettable for the defendants who want to have their trial," he added. "There is nothing I can do about it. It is one of those very rare occurrences."

No date was set for a fresh trial, but Judge Carey said it should have "a high level of priority".

Judge Byers' illness means he will not be available for the trial due to start on March 24 of four men accused over the death of a pensioner whose body was found in a shop in Chatham.

Judge Carey said the case could now be tried by a High Court Judge.

Abdul Hannan, of Aldon Close, Maidstone; Murshed Miah, of Wheeler Street, Maidstone; and Mohammad Islam, of Windmill Road, Gillingham, deny murdering grandmother Harjit Chaggar.

The body of the retired machinist, of Hillside Road, Chatham, was discovered at the Sani Globe store in Luton Road on September 14 last year.

Rasad Miah, of Otway Street, Chatham, denies preventing the lawful burial or cremation of a corpse between September 1 and 15 last year.

Hannan, 44, Murshed Miah, 38, and 28-year-old Islam have all been remanded in custody. Rasad Miah, 27, is on conditional bail.