A MAN who died in a violent attack, which was possibly connected to village feuds in his native Sri Lanka, was unlawfully killed, a coroner ruled.

Partheepan Balasinghan, 23, of Norton Road, Wembley, was set on by a group of men in the early hours of June 8 in a car park outside the Palm Beach Restaurant in Ealing Road, Wembley.

Hornsey Coroner's Court heard that Mr Balasingham was taken to Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow and then transferred to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in Camden, where, despite an operation to relieve pressure around his brain, he died on June 13.

Detective Inspector Alistair McKeown said witnesses described seeing Mr Balasinghan, a Tamil, being attacked with various weapons, including a bottle and a meat cleaver.

He said police were not sure of the motive for the attack, but added: "It may go back as far as inter village rivalry in Sri Lanka itself."

DI McKeown said although they had not charged anyone in connection with Mr Balasingham's murder, their inquiry was ongoing.

And he revealed that police were also investigating other murders in connection with this one, including the death of 18-year-old Cisho Kumar Balachandiran who was attacked just an hour later.

Coroner Dr William Dolman recorded a verdict of unlawful killing.