THE funeral of a Hampshire newsagent killed outside his home will take place today.

Hundreds of mourners are expected to attend the funeral of Choudhry Zishan, who died after he was viciously beaten just yards from his doorstep in Eastleigh High Street.

It will take place at 11am at the Medina Mosque in Compton Walk, Southampton, before he is buried at South Stoneham Cemetery.

As reported, the death of the popular newsagent shocked the close-knit community.

Paramedics battled to save the 35-year-old, who was attacked close to the Swan Centre shopping complex in the early hours of March 30.

He was taken to Southampton General Hospital but he succumbed to severe head injuries, sparking a major police inquiry.

Police immediately cordoned off part of the High Street as scenes of crimes officers spent the morning gathering clues to the attack.

Patrols were stepped up in the area in response to the attack, and leaflets were put through letter boxes as officers stepped up investigations.

Mr Zishan’s family were left devastated by his death.

His brothers Ali Shan Fayyaz, 32, and Saddat Sarwar, 40, described him as a “very hard working person” who was loved by customers at the Newsmarket newsagents where he worked.

Friends and mourners left floral tributes outside his businesses, including Newsmarket and Isaac’s newsagents in Queensway, Southampton.

He arrived from Britain from his native Pakistan more than 15 years ago.

Mr Zishan leaves a wife, who is expecting their second child, a five-year-old son and also ran two other newsagents in the Southampton area and a party shop in Eastleigh.

  • TWO Hampshire men have appeared in court charged with the murder of Choudhry Zishan.

They are alleged to have murdered Mr Zishan, 35, in High Street, Eastleigh, in the early hours of March 30.

Jonathan McKinley, 22, and Samuel McKinley, 25, appeared at Winchester Crown Court on April 4 charged with murder.

They were both remanded in custody by Judge Keith Cutler.