A 23-YEAR-OLD man has been warned he faces a lifetime behind bars after being convicted of murdering his flatmate.

A jury at Chelmsford Crown Court found Rakar Rahimi guilty of murdering his friend Bako Azad Sheikha, 22, in September last year.

Police officers called to Distillery Lane, Colchester, found Bako had been stabbed through the heart shortly before 2am on September 12.

Eyewitnesses said they heard someone “screaming” for help and claimed they saw the victim being run over by his own Nissan Qashqai.

Echo: Killer - Rakar Rahimi murdered his flatmate Bako Azad Sheikha in ColchesterKiller - Rakar Rahimi murdered his flatmate Bako Azad Sheikha in Colchester (Image: Essex Police)

Echo: Tragic - Bako Azad Sheikha was stabbed through the heart by his flatmate Rakar RahimiTragic - Bako Azad Sheikha was stabbed through the heart by his flatmate Rakar Rahimi (Image: Essex police)

Andrew Jackson, prosecuting, said Bako suffered injuries consistent with being caused by a “crushing mechanism”.

Jurors were told the pair lived in a flat in Haven Road, Colchester, and both took cocaine on the night Bako was murdered.

At one point a row erupted between them both, with CCTV footage played to the court showing Rahimi filming himself waving a knife at Bako.

The pair then drove together to Distillery Lane where the dispute became violent and Bako suffered a fatal stab wound.

Echo: Investigation - forensic officers probe Distillery LaneInvestigation - forensic officers probe Distillery Lane (Image: Newsquest)

Echo: Cordon - police officers guard Distillery Lane in the HytheCordon - police officers guard Distillery Lane in the Hythe (Image: Newsquest)

Rahimi then stole his friend’s car, mobile phone and money and drove off before crashing in Tolleshunt D’Arcy.

He was picked up by a friend and taken to Ipswich where he later bought a new mobile phone and boarded a train to Dover, Kent, where he was arrested trying to flee the country.

Giving evidence, Rahimi said he threw Bako’s phone out the window on the A12 en route to Ipswich.

The court had previously heard the initial argument between the two was caused by something on the phone, which has never been found by the police.

Echo: Popular - Bako Azad SheikhaPopular - Bako Azad Sheikha (Image: Newsquest)

Speaking through a Kurdish Sorani interpreter, Rahimi denied murder, suggesting he acted in self defence and claimed Bako stabbed himself by accident.

He is due to be sentenced at the same court tomorrow afternoon (Thursday).

Judge Christopher Morgan said: “There is only one sentence that I can pass in law and that is a life sentence.”

The judge said he will consider submissions from the defence before he fixes the minimum term Rahimi, of Wellington Street, Ipswich, must serve.