Mr Brown's brothers Adam (right) and Paul appealed for witnesses

Paul and Adam Brown said on Monday their brother Tom was the victim of a "vicious" attack 200 yards from his home.

BBC employee Mr Brown, 27, was killed as he walked home from a friend's home in Southgate on Saturday morning.

Police have ruled out robbery as his phone and money were with his body, found at 0430 BST.

Adam Brown told a media conference: "It's difficult to describe in a few words the life of someone you believed would always be with you.

He died where he was attacked, where anyone should be allowed to walk in peace and safety Adam Brown

"Tom was a son, a brother and most of all a friend.

"His philosophy was simple - do the right thing and always put others first.

"He never allowed himself to succumb to envy, ambition or greed.

"He died where he was attacked, where anyone should be allowed to walk in peace and safety."

Mr Brown was killed the day before his 28th birthday

Eldest brother, Paul Brown, 40, a cameraman, appealed for witnesses to come forward.

"Our family will never be the same but please make sure no other father, mother, sister, brother will suffer in the way we are suffering," he said.

Career hopes

He told how his brother hoped to become a cameraman and was planning to buy a new house.

He said Mr Brown, who worked in the BBC's archives department, knew the area where he was attacked "inside out" as the family had grown up there.

"It's a nice, pleasant part of London where you don't expect this to happen," he said.

Det Ch Insp Keith Garnish said they were keen to trace a man who called the ambulance from a local phone box

"The man was described as a large black man driving an executive car.

"He took the ambulance crew to where Tom was but unfortunately did not stay."

Night out with friends

Mr Brown's body was found where he had been attacked on Southgate High Street.

He had visited two local pubs and his friend's house in Mayfair Terrace, where he celebrated his birthday with friends, before he began the 20-minute journey home.

His friend Richard Bridges, who lived at the flat in Mayfair Terrace and was the last person to see Tom alive, said: "We had a small gathering at my flat after Tom called us from his local pub in Southgate.

"He used to always pop round for a chat and would regularly walk home after. He grew up in this area and would never have felt threatened in Southgate."

Det Ch Insp Garnish also said officers were collecting CCTV from the area in order to establish the route Mr Brown took.

Detectives urged anyone who has any information or who saw Mr Brown, who was wearing a blue zip-up top, black trainers and glasses, to contact them.