Man killed for saying hello

A man was battered to death for simply saying "how are you" to a fellow customer at a shop counter.

Witnesses told today that as Daniel Pater, 29, lay dying from his injuries, his killer stole his watch off his wrist and walked off.

Mr Pater lived above the Fairview Convenience Storestore in Tooting and was in the shop to buy tobacco when the attack took place.

Two of Mr Pater's flatmates tried to help him but could not stop the stranger's punches.

Martin Blaszkiewicz, 26, said: "There was no provocation at all. Daniel was a really good guy. He did nothing wrong. He was just being friendly."

The scaffolder was taken to a south London hospital after he was assaulted on Thursday and was on a life support machine until he died on Saturday night.

Mr Blaszkiewicz added: "There was a big black guy at the counter we didn't know. Daniel patted him on the arm and said, 'How are you?' and the guy turned around and hit him.

"Daniel got up and said, 'Easy man, leave me alone'. But the guy just started hitting him again. He was a really big guy. I tried to stop it."

Mr Pater arrived in Britain in 2000 from Poland. He had lived above the store with his girlfriend and flatmates, who were also Polish, in a five-bedroom flat.

Mr Pater's parents flew in to be by his bedside last week and flew back yesterday following his death.

He had lived for just three months at the flat which was leased by the store owner Bir Singh-Madhang, 32, who also witnessed the attack.

Mr Singh-Madhang said: "Daniel just said 'hello' to this guy and he turned on him. Daniel could not do anything. The other guy was huge - about 6ft 7ins. Even when he saw how much damage was done, he just took Daniel's watch, put it in his pocket and walked out of the shop."

Police are appealing for witnesses to the attack which happened at 2.30pm on Thursday. Anyone with information should call the incident room on 020 8247 8536 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.