Designer's Killer Get's Life In Jail

A Moroccan man has been jailed for life for murdering a fashion designer in a "frenzied" knife attack.

The body of Shaun Akanbi, 26, was found in his locked bedroom at the flat he shared with others in Exeter Road, Kilburn, north London, in December.

He had been stabbed through the heart among five knife wounds, three of which were fatal, the Old Bailey heard.

Achraf Jandara, 20, denied killing Mr Akanbi after the pair had swapped Facebook messages to arrange to meet at the flat for sex.

He was later captured on CCTV fleeing wearing clothes from the victim's label Billy Boyce, which he had ransacked from the property, the court was told.

Jandara, 20, of Comber Grove, Camberwell, south London, broke down in tears as a jury of four men and eight women returned a unanimous guilty verdict.

There was applause in the public gallery as he was sentenced to life in prison and told he must serve a minimum of 28 years before he is considered for parole.

Judge John Bevan QC described Jandara as a "very dangerous man" who had killed a talented designer "on the threshold of success".

"I'm satisfied that you were driven by greed," the judge said.

"He was, compared to you, industrious and successful."

Judge Bevan said that he did not know "or care" whether Jandara was a homosexual.

"He clearly wanted a sexual relationship and you led him on," the judge added.

Police were alerted after family of Mr Akanbi, who was born in Britain but was of Kenyan descent, said they were concerned no-one had seen him for three days.

Jandara, whose student visa to stay in the country expired on December 27, days after the killing, was arrested by police the following month.

Prosecutor Peter Finnigan, QC, previously told the court:

"The motive for the killing was very probably robbery. Items were stolen from the flat."

In a statement read to the court, the victim's mother, Morenike Adeyemi, said her son was "ambitious and very determined" and the family's lives would "never be the same again" following his death.

"He was subjected to a frenzied attack and had no opportunity to defend himself," she said.

Mr Akanbi founded his fashion label Billy Boyce in 2008 and named the company after his father.

His clothing range was popular with celebrities and worn in the UK and US, the court heard.

Judge Bevan said it was "common sense" for Jandara, who has no previous convictions, to return to his home country to serve his sentence.