Linah Keza death: Ex-partner guilty of model's death

Linah Keza died at her home in Leyton, east London

A man who stabbed his model ex-partner to death has been found guilty of her murder.

David Gikawa, 38, killed Linah Keza, 29, at her flat in King Edward Road, Leyton, east London, on 31 July last year.

A neighbour who came to her aid when he heard screaming will be awarded a public commendation, police said.

Gikawa will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday.

'Violent attack'

The court heard that the couple who had a young child together had recently separated.

At about 04:00 BST on the day of the murder, a neighbour heard screaming coming from Ms Keza's flat.

He was so concerned that he left his home to check on her.

He heard Ms Keza call for him to "Kick down the door" and so he forced it open but Gikawa had his back against the door and stopped him entering.

The neighbour looked through a glass panel on the door and saw Gikawa with his arm around Ms Keza's neck.

When he was able to fully open the front door to the flat, he found her lying on the floor in a pool of blood.

A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as stab wounds to the chest.

A knife with its end broken off was found at the scene.

Det Insp Ken Hughes said: "Gikawa launched a violent attack on his ex-partner and mother of his young child.

"He showed no remorse and didn't hang around when confronted by a concerned neighbour who came to her aid."