A MAN has been jailed for 19 years for murdering his flatmate in a row over who should clean the microwave.

Alan Knight stabbed David Bond to death at the house they shared in Osmonde Close, Worthing in August, before going on the run.

Hove Crown Court today heard that Knight sent his girlfriend Julie Crogan a message shortly before killing Mr Knight saying "Shall I just kill him and you find me somewhere to duck till we get a plan?"

The court was told that Knight and Mr Bond regularly rowed over the cleaning and Knight had left him a note about the microwave saying it was "disgusting." 

The pair then rowed and Mr Bond asked Knight to move out. 

Knight then sent Ms Crogan a text message saying: "He wants me to move out by the end of the month because he's pissed.....Shall I just kill him and you find me somewhere to duck till we get a plan...I'm serious......Fat waste of space.....I'll take his silly little van  and dump it in London in the intrim period you do some home work.........Not living like this anymore".

Ms Crogan thought Knight was joking but Knight stabbed Mr Bond more than 25 times, leaving him in a pool of blood in the hallway. 

He then sent her Whastapp pictured showing his landlord's dead body.

Knight then went on the run before handing himself in to police in Blackpool. 

Judge Christine Laing QC told Knight at Hove Corwn Court this morning: "You say that he was abusive and belittling, but even if that is correct I'm at a loss to understand why you didnt just move out.

"The killing was premeditated. You indended to kill him as shown by the text messages and you subjected him to the indignity of suffering the effects of the 26 wounds you inflicted.

"You say you are overwhelmed with remorse, but I feel much of that remorse relates to your current situation."

Mr Bond's stepfather, Sonny said: “David was a caring loving son and father to his two sons David junior and Christopher. Out of no reason, his life was taken away cruelly. His mother will miss him very dearly as will I. David was so kind and caring and out of this that caring brought his downfall and caused his death”.

Detective Chief Inspector Tanya Jones said: “Knight knew exactly what he was doing and confessed he made a conscious effort to evade police in the days after murdering David.

“Knight's reaction was extreme for something, which in reality, was very small. The level of violence was horrendous as Knight repeatedly stabbed David.”