Man dies after chip shop attack

A 29-year-old man was kicked to death outside a fish and chip shop after a minor argument erupted in violence on Saturday night, police said yesterday.

Philip Box, who is survived by two children, died in hospital after allegedly being punched to the ground and kicked by a gang of three men in Lower Gornal, near Dudley, West Midlands. Detective Chief Inspector Paddy Mulligan said three men in their 20s were helping with inquiries, but others were still being sought in connection with the attack.

Mr Box, an electrician, died at Dudley's Russells Hall Hospital two hours after losing the consciousness at the scene of the attack.

Mr Mulligan said: "Mr Box had a minor argument in the fish and chip shop which has spontaneously erupted into a vicious attack upon him.

"Basically, the deceased has been knocked to the floor by the assailants who were also in the shop and in a car outside. They have beaten him and kicked him to death - he was unconscious at the scene."

The dead man's brother-in-law, Kevin Jones, 29, was also assaulted, suffering bruising and a broken bone in his right hand.

Police believe three of six men who fled in a blue Vauxhall Cavalier attacked Mr Box, who was from Dudley, and were appealing for witnesses.