Three more people have been arrested over the murder of a Wembley shopkeeper stabbed to death after defending his wife against rowdy customers.

Sivaperakash Supramaniam, 33, was pierced in the heart and collapsed in the arms of his wife, Shanta, 27.

Last Thursday night he returned to Haran Food & Wine, their off-license in Harrow Road, to find a man and a woman arguing with her. He asked them to leave at around 9.15pm.

But when the shopkeeper followed the couple around the corner into Tring Avenue, he was stabbed repeatedly.

Mr Supramaniam stumbled back to the store, only to die from his wounds as paramedics rushed him to Central Middlesex Hospital.

A 42-year-old woman and two men in their 20s were arrested yesterday in connection with the murder. She remains in custody, along with one of the men.

The second man was released on bail. A 44-year old-man arrested earlier this week has also been bailed to return at the end of October.

The Supramaniams had made their home next-door to their shop, seven years after Sivaperakash - a trained lawyer - came to Britain from Malaysia in search of a better life.

Family and residents of the north-west London neighbourhood laid a mound of flowers outside the convenience store.

Today, police have renewed appeals for witnesses. Officers will hand out leaflets to passers-by in the hope it will prompt anyone with information to come forward.

Detective Inspector Paula Craig said: "This was a vicious attack which occurred on a busy street on a summer's evening. It is possible that members of the public saw the suspects in the Harrow Road before the incident in the shop, or leave the scene after the stabbing in Tring Avenue.

"If anyone saw anything suspicious in the area at the time I would urge them to call the incident room."

  • Anyone with information should call 020 8358 0400 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Updated 14.45am