A MAN who stabbed his friend to death has been locked up for at least 20 years.

Bashir Awil Muhumed, of Spring Lane, Radcliffe, claimed he was acting in self defence when he stabbed Saeed Hassan.

However, the 23-year-old was convicted of murder following a trial at Manchester Crown Court.

Muhumed and Saeed, 32, are both originally from Somalia and were friends.

On the day of the attack in January of this year Muhumed met Saeed and Ahmed Shidi, a friend of both the men who lived with Saeed in Hulme, at The Dubay Cafe which is owned by Saeed’s family.

The trio then went back to Saeed and Ahmed’s flat to watch television.

Ahmed left to go shopping at 11.30pm but when he returned he found Saeed seriously injured and Muhumed was also injured.

When he asked Muhumed what happened he replied: "Ambulance."

When paramedics and police arrived Saeed was pronounced dead at the scene and Muhumed was taken to hospital.

A post mortem concluded Saeed died from multiple stab wounds.

An examination of Muhumed’s stab wounds indicated they were self inflicted.

Under police interview Muhumed claimed he had been watching TV when Saeed unexpectedly attacked him with a knife. He told officers he overpowered Saeed and stabbed him in self-defence.

A witness interviewed by police said she was speaking on the phone to Saeed the evening he died when he suddenly heard him shout: "Stop, stop."

She then said she heard the phone fall to the floor and Saeed moaning, a short time later she heard someone buzz the flat’s intercom.

This was Ahmed returning from the shop.

Senior Investigating Officer Vincent Chadwick said: "Muhumed claimed to be acting in self defence, but this conviction proves otherwise.

"He has repeatedly refused to accept what he has done.

"He was supposed to be a friend of Saeed, but for whatever reason violently attacked and killed him and we may never know exactly what prompted such a vicious assault.

"Saeed’s family are totally devastated by the loss of their brother."

Muhumed was jailed for life and will serve a minimum of 20 years.