Killer battered man to death and left body in bath

Dante Forrest, 37, denies murdering Marvin Dickson

A man has been found guilty of murder after battering another man to death before leaving his body in a bath for 10 days.

Marvin Dickson, 40, was found dead at the north London home of his killer, Dante Forrest, on 20 September last year, the Old Bailey heard.

The discovery was made by police who were alerted after a neighbour said a "dreadful smell" was coming from the defendant's property in Wood Green.

After the verdict, Judge Nigel Lickley KC told the defendant he would be passing a life sentence.

The victim's family, sat in the public gallery, burst into tears as the foreman returned the jury's verdict.

During the trial, the court heard that the men knew each other.

Mr Dickson was last seen on CCTV footage in the early hours of 10 September walking with the defendant and carrying a takeaway pizza box.

This "blood-stained" box was found in Forrest's flat suggesting Mr Dickson died soon after the last sighting, the court heard.

The prosecution said forensic testing confirmed the victim's blood was on the pizza box and the shirt and trainers Forrest was wearing on the night of the murder.

A pathological examination showed Mr Dickson died as a result of "substantial" blunt force trauma to the left side of his head.

Forrest is due to be sentenced on 18 November at the same court.