Man guilty of killing another man on Boxing Day

Jurejs Vankovs is yet to be sentenced

A man has been convicted of killing another man in "unnecessary violence" on Boxing Day in central London.

Jurejs Vankovs, 39, of no fixed address, was found guilty of the manslaughter of Michael Murphy, 49, at Wood Green Crown Court on Wednesday.

The pair, who were known to each other, were arguing at about 03:00 GMT on 26 December in Cranwood Street, Shoreditch, before it became violent, witnesses described.

Vankovs will be sentenced at the same court on a date yet to be confirmed.

Michael Murphy died in the early hours of Boxing Day

While Mr Murphy was on the ground, Vankovs was seen appearing to stab him in the leg, the trial heard.

The victim died at the scene from a damaged artery in his leg, with Vankovs fleeing the scene.

A manhunt was launched to find Vankovs, who lived a transient lifestyle around the Hackney area, jurors were told.

He was located and arrested on New Year’s Day.

Det Ch Insp Kelly Allen, who led the investigation, said: “Michael’s life was taken away in a matter of seconds as a result of completely unnecessary violence by Jurejs Vankovs.

“Whatever the trigger was for this fatal attack, the level of aggression used by Vankovs was completely disproportionate to the threat he faced."

He added: “With Michael lying defenceless on the ground, Vankovs had a choice of how to conclude their altercation - he chose to stab him, causing Michael an injury that he could not survive.

“This choice has left Michael’s family, and those who knew him, completed devastated and he must now face up to the consequences of his actions.”