Man admits killing 29-year-old stabbing victim Mohsin Bhatti

Ahmed Noor appeared at Belfast Crown Court where he admitted killing 29-year-old Mohsin Bhatti.

Noor, who is orginally from Somalia and whose address was given as Agincourt Avenue in Belfast, was charged with murdering Mr Bhatti on January 29, 2015.

When the murder charge was put to Noor, he replied: “Not guilty to murder, but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.”

Prosecuting barrister Kieran Murphy QC said that in light of this, the Crown was accepting the plea to manslaughter.

Mr Murphy also revealed that a second charge Noor was facing - namely possessing two knives with intent to commit murder - was being “left on the books, not to be proceeded with”.

Mr Murphy told Madam Justice McBride that this offence was “part and parcel” of the circumstances in respect of the manslaughter.

Mr Bhatti, who came from Pakistan, had been in Northern Ireland for around a year and had been living at India Street at the time of his death.

He sustained multiple stab wounds in the early morning attack and died on Botanic Avenue.

During Tuesday’s brief hearing at Belfast Crown Court, both the prosecution and defence asked for time to allow for the preparation of pre-sentence and medical reports.

Madam Justice McBride granted this request and said she would hear the plea on June 30.

The judge then remanded Noor back into custody to a secure unit at Knockbracken Healthcare Park on the outskirts of Belfast.