Derek Clark, 32, Richard Parvin, 29, and Darryl Finnie, 27, were in the dock for a preliminary hearing at the High Court in Glasgow.

They are accused of breaking into the house of Mary Coulter in Wishaw, Lanarkshire, and assaulting the 76-year-old on March 22.

Mrs Coulter is said to have been repeatedly struck with a knife or similar instrument on the head and body.

Clark, Parvin and 21-year-old Ethan Hughes are then accused of carrying out another attempted murder on the same day. It is alleged Grant Murdoch was abducted and taken to Rosebank, South Lanarkshire, where he was attacked.

Clark faces a further allegation that he assaulted Karim Dsouli in Livingston, West Lothian, on April 17 and also demanded he pay a sum of money.

Lawyers for the accused entered not guilty pleas on their behalf. Judge Lord Bracadale adjourned the case until a further hearing later this year.