Man guilty of Matthew Pyke murder

David Heiss, 21, stabbed Matthew Pyke 86 times in a brutal attack at the couple's flat in Nottingham after becoming infatuated with Joanna Witton.

The judge at Nottingham Crown Court, Mr Justice Keith, sentenced Heiss to life and told him he would serve at least 18 years.

Heiss forced his way in to the flat Mr Pyke shared with his 21-year-old girlfriend and stabbed him as he lay cowering in the corner.

In his last moments Mr Pyke, 20, had written DAV, the first three letters of Heiss's Christian name, in his own blood on the side of his computer to alert police to his killer's identity.

But the computer sciences student, of Stowmarket, Suffolk, did not survive the attack on September 19 last year, which was described by prosecutors as "savage and sustained".

Heiss became obsessed with Miss Witton after meeting her through the war gaming website she ran with her boyfriend from their flat above the Orange Tree pub in North Sherwood Street in Nottingham city centre.

There were gasps in the public gallery as the verdict was delivered. Mr Pyke's brother Adam hugged his mother Kim.

The judge told Heiss: "The fact that your motive for murder was so bizarre doesn't make your killing of Matthew any the less serious."