TWO Romanian squatters have been jailed for 38 years after killing their housemate over his taste in music.

Gheorghe Teodorescu, 47, and Marcea Corbu, 51, stabbed and bludgeoned housemate Csaba Siklodi, aged 42, to death at the Sydenham squat on February 9.

Mr Siklodi was stabbed 18 times and beaten around the face with a crowbar after he asked to listen to music from Hungary rather than his native Romania.

The trio had spent the afternoon and evening drinking in one of the bedrooms that the two defendants shared at the bungalow in Mayow Road.

At around midnight an argument erupted between Teodorescu and Mr Siklodi over what to listen to on the laptop. This quickly led to a brutal attack on Mr Siklodi.

When 47-year-old Teodorescu was arrested he was sleeping on his bed in a blood-spattered room with the corpse lying on the floor nearby.

Detective Inspector Graeme Gwyn from Homicide and Serious Crime Command said: "Csaba Siklodi came to the UK to find work and help his family back in Romania.

"In the early hours of February 9 this year there was a petty argument with two of his fellow housemates and during this argument both defendants viciously attacked Csaba with a crowbar and knives and killed him.

"I want to thank the Romanian Police for their help and cooperation during the investigation and pay tribute to Csaba's family who have acted with dignity throughout this difficult time."

Both men were found guilty of murder at Snaresbrook Crown Court on December 13.

Today (Dec 14) Teodorescu was sentenced to 20 years in prison and Corbu was handed an 18-year sentence for the killing.