A MURDERER has been jailed for 25 years for the “brutal” killing of his flatmate in Colchester.

Rakar Rahimi stabbed best friend Bako Azad Sheikha, 22, through the heart before running him over in Distillery Lane in the early hours of September 12 last year.

Rahimi, 23, was later arrested by the police in Dover, Kent, as he tried to flee the country hours after killing Bako.

He denied murder but was convicted by a jury at Chelmsford Crown Court after a ten day trial.

Echo: Life sentence - Rakar RahimiLife sentence - Rakar Rahimi (Image: Essex Police)

Echo: Tragic killing - Bako Azad SheikhaTragic killing - Bako Azad Sheikha (Image: Newsquest)

Jurors were told the pair took cocaine in their shared flat in Haven Road, Colchester, on the night Bako was murdered.

CCTV footage played to the court showed Rahimi filming himself waving a knife at his friend in the property after a row broke out.

The defendant then forced Bako to drive his car to Distillery Lane where he was then stabbed to death and run over.

Judge Christopher Morgan said: “He must have been terrified as to what was to happen to him in those circumstances.

Echo: Cordon - police officers guarding the scene in Distillery LaneCordon - police officers guarding the scene in Distillery Lane (Image: Newsquest)

Echo: Investigation - forensics officers arrive at the scene Investigation - forensics officers arrive at the scene (Image: Newsquest)

“Within a few minutes of arriving in Distillery Lane, Bako had received two stab wounds.”

Addressing Rahimi, Judge Morgan added: “In your haste you gave no thought as to where his [Bako’s] body was when you were reversing the car.

“The circumstances of Bako’s murder were brutal.”

Following the stabbing, Rahimi stole his friend’s Nissan Qashqai, mobile phone and money and drove off before crashing in Tolleshunt D’Arcy.

Echo: Tributes - emotional tributes have been paid to Bako Azad SheikhaTributes - emotional tributes have been paid to Bako Azad Sheikha (Image: Essex police)

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

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 after it was thrown onto the A12.

Sentencing Rahimi to a minimum term of 25 years in prison, Judge Morgan said: “You have left his family and friends and those who knew him in the community heartbroken.”