CCTV shows fatal row

CCTV cameras have caught the moment before a commuter was attacked by a fellow passenger - for accidentally treading on his son's foot.

Vipaul Prasanna, a 41-year-old father of four, died last night in hospital after suffering massive head injuries in the attack at Wembley Park Tube station. His attacker, now wanted by police for murder, is pictured in the CCTV footage wearing a baseball cap.

Just seconds after the film was taken, Mr Prasanna crouched down to apologise to the child - only to be hit in the face. Witnesses said he immediately lost consciousness and hit his head hard on the ground.

Today, his devastated wife Sudandhika told the Evening Standard how Mr Prasanna had been due to return to his native Sri Lanka in less than a month's time after being away from his family for four years.

Since the attack five days ago she has been desperately attempting to fly to Britain to be at his bedside but was unable to get immigration clearance.

"I can't believe this has happened," said Mrs Prasanna, speaking from Colombo, the Sri Lankan capital. "He was talking about coming home in June."

As she was told the news from the Royal London Hospital, she asked a family friend to put a telephone next to Mr Prasanna's body so that his children could say goodbye. She said: "The children won't stop crying, saying they want to see their daddy. It is terrible. He was a family man, very caring and hardworking. He never troubled or harmed anybody."

Mr Prasanna, who was living in Surbiton, had been working in a shop in Brixton after arriving in Britain in 2000. He had moved away from his wife and children, including a five-month-old son, in order to provide a better future for them.

"It was a very difficult decision, it was a big sacrifice for us," said Mrs Prasanna. "The children were his life and he wanted to give them better prospects."

Police are stepping up their hunt for the suspect, who was filmed by CCTV cameras at the station as he tried to get through the barriers without a ticket. As Mr Prasanna walked through the barrier, the man had pushed his son so that he could "tailgate" him.

Witnesses say the man then claimed Mr Prasanna had stepped on the child's foot and aggressively demanded an apology - but when the Sri Lankan attempted to do so, he was hit.

The suspect was last seen walking in the direction of Wembley's Chalkhill Estate. He is described as black, in his twenties and of powerful build. The man was wearing a white long-sleeved top with dark trousers and a dark-coloured baseball cap. His son, who is about 10, was wearing a camouflage cap with his hair sticking out at the back.

Anyone with information is asked to call the incident room on 020 8358 0200 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.