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Shopper murder suspect is grandmother aged 37
Benedict Moore-Bridger, Evening Standard13.06.08
The girlfriend of a man accused of killing an innocent shopper at a Sainsbury's store appeared in court today after she too was charged with murder.
Kevin Tripp, 57, who suffered from ME, was standing in a supermarket queue in Merton when he was attacked by a stranger who apparently mistook him for a teenage yob. The engineer was hit so hard in the face he collapsed to the floor, unconscious, in a pool of blood.
Tony Virasami, 37, from Catford, appeared in court yesterday charged with his murder and was remanded in custody.
His partner Antoinette Richardson, also 37, a grandmother, was charged amid allegations that she had encouraged Virasami in the assault. She appeared at Sutton magistrates' court today wearing a white sweatshirt and with her long black hair loose. She spoke only to confirm her name, address and date of birth.
Richardson was refused bail despite begging magistrate Derek Cock not to remand her in custody, shouting: "Please don't".
She was remanded until 18 September at the Old Bailey when she will appear alongside Virasami, who was remanded by Wimbledon magistrates yesterday. Her teenage daughter, who was in court, burst into tears and shouted: "I love you, Mum" when Richardson left the court.
A 19-year-old involved in the altercation and arrested at the scene for threatening behaviour has been bailed until 22 July, police said.
Mr Tripp, a retired structural engineer, contracted ME - also known as chronic fatigue syndrome - 10 years ago. He lived with his long-term partner, Josephine James, 50, and their five-year-old daughter Rianna in Colliers Wood.
Neighbour Breda McDonagh, 70, a retired nurse, said: "He was a very nice chap, a sociable man, co-operative. I saw them almost every day when I'd be out sweeping the front and she'd pass by with her little girl."
Her daughter, Mitcham and Morden Labour MP Siobhain McDonagh, said: "Kevin was a quiet, self-effacing man. The last thing in the world he would do would be to become involved in anything violent."
Fellow ME sufferer Catriona Courtier, from Chiswick, said: "He was a lovely man. Even though he was quite ill himself, he was very supportive of everyone with ME."
Mr Tripp is believed to have hit his head as he fell during the attack on Tuesday evening, causing fatal injuries.
Mauricette Kouadio, 40, a member of the supermarket staff, saw the incident.
She said: "Standing behind the youth was an innocent man, waiting to be served. He fell on the floor. He had a cut to his head, there was blood in his nose, his mouth was full of blood - it was everywhere."
Mr Tripp was taken to St George's Hospital in Tooting where he was resuscitated but later lapsed into a coma. He died on Wednesday evening.
