Man charged over murder of the father killed in a row about his son's football

David Martin, 40, was found dead in the front garden of a house in Rutter Gardens, Mitcham, south-west London, on Sunday.

Gary Kelly, 37, of Rutter Gardens, will appear at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court today charged with Mr Martin's murder.

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Kelly's partner, Kay Scrivener, 41, also of Rutter Gardens, appeared before Wimbledon magistrates yesterday on a charge of wounding Mr Martin with intent to cause GBH.

The mother-of-four was remanded in custody to appear at Kingston Crown Court on February 12.

The court was told that an altercation erupted after Mr Martin attempted to retrieve his son's football, which had been kicked into a neighbour's garden.

A fight ensued, during which the window cleaner was stabbed and suffered severe head injuries.

Scrivener is alleged to have hit Mr Martin with a golf club during the incident.

Police also arrested a 14-year-old girl and two women, aged 41 and 69, at the scene. They were later released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Mr Martin's wife Angela said today she and her family were "devastated" by her husband's death.

She said: "David was a family man who would do anything for anyone, even going without or putting himself last.

"He was a fun-loving, happy, gentle giant."

Mr and Mrs Martin, of Ravensbury Grove, Mitcham, had been married for 16 years. They had three children, aged 10, 12 and 14.

Floral tributes and hand-written notes of remembrance piled up at the scene of the attack today.

A note attached to a bouquet left by Mrs Martin read: "To my darling Dave, you are the love of my life, my soul mate, you are forever in my heart. I love you always, Angie."

Mr Martin's children added their own tributes.

"Dad, I love you and you will always be in my thoughts," his daughter Sophie wrote.

The dead man was a supporter of Fulham Football Club and a team shirt was left in tribute, on which his son Jamie had written, "To Dad. We'll miss you."

In a bizarre twist, it emerged that Mr Martin's father Raymond was murdered in a fight outside a Mitcham pub in 1986.

The older man was beaten with chains and iron bars when he tried to save his son from an attack by a group of youths, and died from his injuries two days later.

"A gang of boys were after David and his dad saw them having a go at him. He intervened but they all turned on him, killing him," a neighbour told the Evening Standard.