Man in court over dad's supermarket killing (From Your Local Guardian)

Man in court over dad's supermarket killing

12:50pm Thursday 12th June 2008 in

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A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a 57-year-old dad killed after being assaulted in a Colliers Wood Sainsbury's.

Tony Virasami, 37, from Sedgehill Road, Lewisham, appeared before Wimbledon Magistrates' Court this morning.

Kevin Tripp, a structural engineer from Colliers Wood, died after he was assaulted in the Merton High Street store on Tuesday at 7.30pm.

It is thought that he was attacked after a row over queue jumping.

Sources at the supermarket said Mr Tripp had not been involved in the initial row.

The dad-of-one who has a long-term partner suffered from a head injury as a result of the incident.

He was taken by ambulance to St George's Hospital but died shortly before midnight last night.

The court heard Mr Tripp suffered from ME and even created a website about the illness.

In an online profile Mr Tripp writes about his battle with the disease and says he was made redundant in 1990 and decided to take some time out to work on his home.

He shared a house in Boundary Road, Merton, with his partner, Josephine, a secretary, and his young daughter.

Staff at the supermarket said Mr Tripp had fallen backwards after being punched once and hit his head on the ground.

Distressed customers were evacuated from the store following the incident.

Officers entered the store yesterday to examine CCTV footage of the incident and are appealing for witnesses to contact them.

Virasami appeared dressed in a white t-shirt and tracksuit bottoms only to confirm his name.

He had initially been charged with grievous bodily harm but the Crown Prosecution Service changed the charge to murder following Mr Tripp's death.

He was remanded in custody to appear before The Old Bailey on September 18.