Student gets life for murder of UK literary agent

A student (22) was jailed for life today for the murder of one of Britain's top literary agents.

A student (22) was jailed for life today for the murder of one of Britain's top literary agents.

Rod Hall was found dead in his flat in May 2004 after being stabbed over 20 times.

Edinburgh University student Usman Durrani (22) was found guilty today, and Judge Gerald Gordon said he should spend at least 12 years in jail.

The prosecution said Durrani was a former gay lover of Mr Hall's who became bitter after the relationship ended.

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"Mr Hall was killed out of anger and revenge which had festered over time," prosecutor Aftab Jafferjee said.

The jury found Durrani guilty of murder after dismissing defence claims that he was mentally ill at the time of the attack.

"It is clear there was a homosexual sadomasochistic element to this offence," the judge said. "There was also an element of mental and physical suffering and goading before the fatal stabbing."

Mr Hall's clients had included Oscar nominee Simon Beaufoy, the author of The Full Monty, and Lee Hall, the author of Billy Elliot.