A MAN has been jailed for battering his flatmate to death with a Sikh bracelet.

Merjit Bains, aged 32, was found guilty of murder at the Old Bailey.

He was given a life sentence yesterday and must serve a minimum of 12 years in prison.

Bains had already admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice but denied murder.

Ragbir Singh Chahal, aged 31, was beaten with a heavy metal Kara bracelet that Sikhs wear as a sign of devotion.

Bains, of Tower Road, Tividale, Warley, West Midlands, and fellow defendants Jatinder Kandola, aged 28, Jagpal Jaswal, aged 22, and Ritesh Marwaha, aged 22, dumped the body on Plumstead Common, before fleeing to the Birmingham area.

But the four left the victim's mobile phone in his trouser pocket and police caught them after finding their numbers in the phone's memory.

All four men were illegal immigrants from India and were living in Plumstead High Street with Mr Chahal, known as Bittu', when he died.

The flatmates used to drink heavily and argue with each other, said Jonathan Laidlaw, prosecuting.

On March 2 last year a row started and Mr Chahal was beaten by his housemates.

Mr Laidlaw said: "So forcibly had he been beaten around the head that Bittu also received injuries to his brain that were to lead to his death the following day."

The following day three of the men went to work leaving one to stay with the dying victim to stop him calling the police.

Jaswal and Marwaha, both of of Stanmore Road, Smethwick, West Midlands, were acquitted of murder but found guilty of manslaughter and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

They were jailed for four years each.

Kandola, of Europe Avenue, West Bromwich, was cleared of both murder and manslaughter, but convicted of attempting to pervert the course of justice and jailed for three years.

Judge David Paget QC recommended each of them for deportation when they are released from prison.