'I cannot believe he has gone' says partner of supermarket 'queue rage' attack

Josephine James, who had a five-year-old daughter with victim Kevin Tripp, said: "I never thought this could happen. I still cannot believe he has gone. My Kev was the sensible one in our relationship, always there with good advice not just to me but to others."

She added: 'Kev was a lovely man, a great dad, a wonderful brother and he will be so, so missed especially by me, his daughter, brother, sisters, nieces, nephews and by all who knew him.'

Antoinette Richardson appeared in court charged with the murder of Kevin Tripp (left). Her boyfriend has been remanded in custody

Yesterday Antoinette Richardson, 37, appeared in court, 24 hours after her boyfriend, Tony Virasami, was also charged with murdering former structural engineer Kevin Tripp.

Father-of-one Mr Tripp - who suffered from the debilitating illness ME - fell heavily after being punched at Sainsbury's in Merton, South West London, on Tuesday night.

The slightly-built victim, who overcame polio as a child, lapsed into a coma and later died of massive head injuries in hospital.

It is alleged that Virasami, also 37, of Catford, South East London, hit Mr Tripp after mistaking him for another man who had caused a row at the store.

Virasami was remanded in custody on Thursday to appear at the Old Bailey on September 18, also charged with murder.

Yesterday, jobless Richardson, also of Catford, was remanded in custody by magistrates in Sutton, Surrey. She will appear at the Old Bailey on the same date as Virasami.

Devastated: Mr Tripp's sister (centre) and his long-term partner Josephine James (right) break down outside the family home

Richardson, who is a grandmother, broke down when she was told she would be locked up until her next court appearance. She sobbed 'please don't' as she was led from the dock.

Mr Tripp, who lived with his family in Colliers Wood, near the supermarket, was made redundant in 1990, shortly after going down with ME - myalgic encephalopathy, or chronic fatigue syndrome.

But he had finally achieved the happiness he craved through the birth of his daughter Rianna five years ago. Police believe that as he stood near the checkout at Sainsbury's, Mr Tripp was wrongly accused of queue-jumping.

Witnesses said a woman customer accused another shopper of pushing in ahead of her. She then allegedly called a friend, who attacked 'the first person he saw'.