Muslim strangled blind imam after claiming victim was 'Antichrist,' court hears

A Muslim strangled a blind imam before declaring it was "judgement day" and his victim was the "Antichrist", a court heard today. Hamza Boutouil, 25, inflicted a severe beating to 39-year-old Sheikh Maymoun Zazour inside his office at an Islamic centre in Finsbury Park, it was said.

Algerian-born Boutouil then strangled his victim with an ornamental cord, but returned later proclaiming it was "judgment day", the Old Bailey has heard.

Both prosecution and defence admit he carried out the killing and jurors have been told they will have to determine whether he is clinically insane.

Boutouil visited the Muslim Welfare House, on Seven Sisters Road, last September 2 at around 4pm, said prosecutor Jonathan Turner Queen's Counsel.

The killer had been living in a squat in Wood Green and would often visit the centre - located just across the road from Finsbury Park Mosque - to pray.

During prayers he caused a disturbance by reading from the Qu'ran loudly, but appeared to calm down as the session went on.

It was later that evening, at around 8.35pm that he went into Mr Zazour's room while the imam was using an upstairs toilet, confronting him when he returned around five minutes later. (...)