Man dies after bottle attack at star-studded BlackBerry party

A father of two who suffered horrific injuries in a bottle attack at a celebrity-packed party held by smartphone firm BlackBerry died this morning, police said.

Phillip Sherriff, 37, was fatally wounded at Pulse nightclub in central London following a performance by Brit award-winning singer Jessie J.

Company director Ashley Charles, 25, was remanded in custody yesterday, charged over the attack which police are now investigating as murder.

Jessie J said she was "lost for words" after hearing news of the fatality.

The Brit Award-winner performed at the function before Mr Sherriff was fatally wounded.He died in hospital this morning after a four-day battle to save his life.

Her full posting read:

Mr Sherriff, a married telecommunications professional from Preston, Lancashire, was rushed to the Royal London Hospital in the early hours of Wednesday morning after suffering a neck injury at the Pulse nightclub.

Medics were later forced to operate on his skull to remove pressure from an injury to his brain.

But the wounded man - who remained in a critical condition - died this morning.

His next of kin have been informed.

"A post-mortem examination will be arranged in due course," a Scotland Yard spokesman said.

Mr Sherriff had been invited to the BlackBerry function in Southwark, central London, along with a string of celebrities. These included rapper Wretch 32 and stars of The Only Way Is Essex.

Ashley Charles, a 25-year-old company director, was remanded in custody yesterday, charged over the attack which police are now investigating as murder.

Charles, of Nevanthon Road, Leicester, spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth when he appeared in the dock at Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court yesterday, accused of attempted murder.

The defendant, dressed in a dark jumper and jeans, was ordered to attend Inner London Crown Court on April 20.

An application for bail was refused.