A woman is due in court over the knife murder of a Wembley shopkeeper who tried to protect his wife against rowdy customers.

Janine Spence, 42, has been charged with stabbing to death Sivaperakash Supramaniam near his off-license in north-west London.

Mr 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 shop 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.

Seven years ago he left his homeland of Malaysia, where he qualified as a lawyer, in search of a better life in Britain.

The young couple had made their home next-door to their shop, where a mound of flowers from family and local residents is now growing.

Spence, who lives in Harrow Road, is due to appear at Brent magistrates' court today.

A man in his 20s remain in custody in connection with the murder, while two other men - one aged 44 - have been released on police bail.