A MAN has been convicted of stabbing his housemate to death at the Brighton flat they shared.

Star Randel-Hanson was found guilty of the murder of Derick Marney, 70, at the latter’s flat in Vernon Terrace, Brighton, in April last year.

The 50-year-old was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 15 years at Croydon Crown Court after a two-week trial.

Mr Marney’s body was discovered on Monday, May 4, 2015, and a post-mortem established that death resulted from a six-inch stab wound to the side which punctured vital organs.

After killing Mr Marney in April 2015, Randel-Hansen continued to live in the flat, leaving the body in the kitchen where he had committed the crime for 10 days before comments he made to a tarot card reader on Brighton seafront were reported to the police.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Rymarz, of the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said: “While it is not clear what motivated Randel-Hansen to stab Marney, the evidence showed that the stab wound was deliberate.

“He had been living at Marney’s flat for several months, apparently on good terms, having first met at a local spiritualist church. However, their relationship seems to have had some problems, culminating in a dispute of some kind on the day Marney was killed.

“Randel-Hansen was in the kitchen when Marney came in and he maintained in court that the fatal injury took place when the victim came in unexpectedly. Our investigation, including the forensic evidence and his contradictory statements, showed otherwise to the satisfaction of the jury.

“This was a tragic case and our thoughts go to the victim and his family over such a violent and unexpected crime.”

Mr Marney’s sister said: “I still cannot believe that Derick is no longer with us. This past year has been so difficult for myself and my family.

“Having to sit through a re-trial has prolonged our grief. The jury’s verdict today has slightly eased our pain.

“Although Derick will always be in our thoughts I’m hoping my family and I can now start to rebuild our lives.”