The sentencing of six men involved in the brutal death of a laundry manager was delayed this week.

Last month two of the men were found guilty of the murder of Sellathurai Balasingham and another two of manslaughter at the Old Bailey.

The Mitcham man died in November 2001, after being assaulted as he arrived home from work in Huntington Close.

His killers were due to be sentenced on Monday, but their next appearance in court will now be on 18 August when a new date for their sentencing will be arranged. A spokesman for the court would not disclose the reason for the delay.

Last month the Old Bailey jury heard Mr Balasingham, 36, was beaten about the head in a prolonged attack near a grassy area in between Kent Close and Huntington Close on the Pollards Hill Estate in Mitcham.

He was taken by ambulance to the Mayday Hospital, London Road, Croydon, where he was declared dead at shortly after midnight on November 7.

Prabu Santharatnam, 26, of Commonside, East Mitcham and Nimalan Nadarajah, 29, of no fixed address were both found guilty of murder and perverting the course of justice.

Jathies Santharatnam, 33, of Commonside, East Mitcham and Mayuran Seevaratnam, 28, of no fixed address, were convicted of manslaughter. Jathies Santharatnam was also convicted of perverting the course of justice.

Two others - Nimalrajah Thambithurai, 28, of Coverton Road, Tooting, and Makundan Kumarasritharan, 29, of Mount Rd, Mitcham - were found guilty of conspiracy to assault.