Head injury father dies in hospital

A father of two has died after he was allegedly assaulted outside a tandoori restaurant in Dudley.

West Midlands Police detectives say they are now treating the death of 36-year-old Jamie Roberts as murder.

Mr Roberts died at 5pm yesterday in Dudley's Russells Hall Hospital with his family at his bedside. He had suffered head injuries.

A post mortem examination was due to take place later today.

Mr Roberts, a partner in family business J & G Butchers, in Russells Hall Road, was admitted to hospital in the early hours of Sunday following an alleged assault outside the Rose of Kashmir restaurant in Wolverhampton Street, Dudley.

His life support machine was switched off on Tuesday, the same day as an electrician from Coseley was charged with assaulting Mr Roberts causing grevious bodily harm.

Mitchell Jones, aged 23, of Chad Road, was remanded in custody by Dudley magistrates.

The butcher's was today closed as a mark of respect and will reopen tomorrow. Floral tributes have been left outside the premises.

The death has been referred to the Black Country Coroner, Robin Balmain, and police say a murder charge is expected.

Officers have again appealed for witnesses to a disturbance outside the restaurant.