A killer who was found casually washing a blood-stained knife after stabbing his flatmate to death has been found guilty of murder.

Emil Asparuhov Hristov, of Sherrard Road, Manor Park, was found guilty at the Old Bailey on Thursday of murdering friend Dimitar Petrov after a two week trial.

Hristov, 40, claimed to have acted in self-defence after stabbing the victim 18 times – four times through the heart.

Police were called to the flat at on August 20 last year after reports of a disturbance and found Mr Petrov, 29, dead at the scene.

Hristov was taken to hospital for treatment to minor injuries to his legs and arms and discharged within an hour, with a pathologist later saying the cuts were likely self-inflicted.

He admitted killing Mr Petrov, but claimed he was acting in self-defence after being attacked.

Detectives found Hristov placed the knife he used to kill the victim in his hand before leaving the flat. He also made no attempt to call for medical aid for his dying flatmate.

Both shared a property with five other flatmates and the court heard Hristov thought he and Mr Petrov were alone.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Dimitar Petrov was stabbed 18 times during the attack

However, one housemate was at home and walked in on the killer calmly washing the blood-stained knife as his victim lay fatally injured in the bathtub.

In a statement, Mr Petrov’s mother said: “The loss of a child is the worst thing that can happen to a parent. There is nothing worse than that.

“My son’s life was taken within a second and this second shattered my heart into a thousand pieces.

“My son had dreams he will never achieve. My sorrow is huge and endless, it will be with me forever. My favourite son, the son I love so much is gone.”

Hristov is due to be sentenced on Friday.

Detective Inspector Rita Tierney, who led the investigation for the Met, said: "Hristov maintained his self-defence story in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

“His injuries were said to have been self-inflicted and he callously placed the murder weapon in the victim's hand on his way out of the house making no attempt to raise medical help.

“I hope today's conviction goes some small way to helping the family move on from what has been a traumatic period in their life.”