A killer has admitted stabbing a man to death in the West End of Newcastle.
Yasim Ismael knifed Beimnet Gebreab, 49, to death in Arthur's Hill, on November 14 last year. Ismael was due to stand trial for murder next week but he denied that offence and pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and also admitted having a bladed article on the same date.
Prosecutors have accepted that plea and Newcastle Crown Court heard Ismael, 37, of Dilston Road, Newcastle, is waiting to be transferred to a secure hospital for psychiatric assessment.
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Asked if his plea to the lesser offence was acceptable, Kama Melly KC said: "It is. We have consulted with the family, we have consulted with the police and a review took place with a senior lawyer at the Crown Prosecution Service and a consultation took place with a doctor. I explained those pleas to the wife of the deceased myself this week."
Judge Paul Sloan KC ordered psychiatric reports to be compiled addressing to what extent Ismael's responsibility was diminished as a result of his mental disorder.
Victim impact statements from Mr Gebreab's family are also to be compiled before sentencing takes place on August 21.
Judge Sloan told Ismael, who appeared on a video-link to prison and who had an interpreter: "I'm adjourning your case to the 21st of August of this year. You will be produced in person at court on that date.
"I have directed the preparation of psychiatric reports. You should understand, the fact I'm adjourning sentence, the fact I'm directing the preparation of further reports - that is not an indication of the sentence that will be imposed.
"I will decide on the actual sentence having considered all relevant material and information at the hearing on the 21st of August. You will be remanded pending sentence."
Full details of what happened will be revealed at the sentencing hearing. Police were called to a home shortly after 6am on Monday November 14 and found Mr Gebreab, of Newcastle, with stab wounds. Despite the best efforts of medics, he died.
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