A JURY is deciding the fate of a man who has admitted stabbing another to death.

Tajwar Alam, 19, has admitted inflicting the stab wounds that killed Hassan Mohammed Ibrahim in York Road, Southend, on July 7 last year.

During the trial at Chelmsford Crown Court, Alam claimed he was acting in self-defence after Mr Ibrahim, 26, from Peckham pulled a knife on his friend and attacked him – though the crown has claimed it was an orchestrated reprisal attack.

After Judge Charles Gratwicke had detailed the evidence against Alam, the jury rose to consider their verdict shortly before 10.40am today.

Former co-defendants Simbarashe Zemura, Darren Qainoo, Tahmid Alam, Vasile Iftinca and Danzel Bhebhe were all cleared of murder and conspiracy last week after Judge Gratwicke ruled they had no case to answer on grounds of lack of evidence.

UPDATE: The jury were recalled at 4.30pm and, as they have not yet returned a verdict, will continue to deliberate tomorrow