THE brother of murdered nurse Yvonne Gilford last night demanded that the two accused nurses in the case stand trial.

''Forget mercy, I want to see her alleged killers in court,'' he said.

Ms Deborah Parry, 42, and Scot Lucille Mc-Lauchlan, 31, are charged with stabbing and beating to death Ms Gilford, 55, an Australian, in her room at King Fahd Hospital in Dhahran last December.

Mr Frank Gilford, 58, stated: ''I don't feel anything for them.''

They were allegedly caught trying to withdraw money with her bank card just hours after the murder. Saudi police claim the pair confessed but they are both now claiming their innocence.

Under Islamic law, they could face the death penalty if convicted unless Ms Gilford's family begs for mercy on their behalf.

A defence lawyer has sent a dossier to Mr Gilford outlining the reasons for him to ask for clemency. However, the appeal has been rejected by Mr Gilford.

''They must face trial. There is an incredible pressure on us to stop this but we are not going to be pushed around by the defence lawyers,'' he said.

''The only way you can base an opinion on anything is with a trial and let the facts speak for themselves. I have faith in the Saudi judicial system to bring out the truth.''

He added: ''We can't even think about asking for mercy until we have heard in court exactly what happened out there.''

Yesterday, the defence lawyers denied they had begged for mercy from the family.

Spokesman Robert Thomas said they had sent ''a rationale for the early waiver of the death penalty, not an appeal for mercy''.

He added: ''It was given to the lawyers of Mr Gilford for the sole purpose of passing it to Mr Gilford for his private reflection.''