A partygoer who knifed an innocent man to death at a university bar in a row sparked by a ‘flirty’ remark about a girl is facing a life sentence.

Noor Hassan Barre, 22, was stabbed in a ‘wholly needless’ attack at a student party at Middlesex University, Hendon.

Kevin Mao, 20, of Norris House, on the Colville Estate, Hoxton, plunged a blade into Mr Barre’s chest, the Old Bailey heard. The knife penetrated his lung and major arteries close to his heart.

Mao put his hands to his head and blubbered as he was convicted of murder by a jury of seven men and five woman on Tuesday.

Sodiq Adebayo, 22, of De Vere Gardens, Ilford, had been earlier acquitted of the killing on the judge’s direction.

Prosecutor Simon Denison QC said: ‘Noor Barre’s death was as sudden as it was violent and it was wholly unnecessary.

“Another life taken away in an incident by the use of a knife that was taken onto the street for no reason.”

The victim and his killer were at an Afro-Caribbean student party last October 31 when a dispute broke out between them.

Mao made a “flirty” remark about one of Mr Barre’s friends, which led to the confrontation.

Mao was sentenced to 26 years imprisonment at the Old Bailey today.