Man not guilty of murder after stabbing flatmate

A man has been found guilty of manslaughter for killing his flatmate while he was sleeping.

Indogen Erdogan, 32, of no fixed abode, had denied murdering his flatmate Fatih Zengi 27, on 2 July.

Zengi was found by a passing cyclist with critical injuries on Manchester Road in Swindon, Wiltshire, on 2 July 2025, and died at the scene.

During a trial at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday, a jury cleared Erdogan of murder, but found him guilty of an alternative charge of manslaughter and possession of a bladed article.

Erdogan, a Turkish national, had previously denied murder and a charge of carrying a knife in a public place.

The flatmates lived in a house of multiple occupation (HMO), and the court was told they argued the day before Zengi's death.

Erdogan later told police that Zengi had said "bad words" about his mother and sister.

Charles Row KC, prosecuting, previously told the jury: "The crown's case is that the defendant harboured resentment when he returned to the flat at 04:42 BST."

The jury was told that Erdogan had got a knife from the kitchen, went to the bedroom where Zengi was asleep and attacked him.

While giving evidence earlier in the trial, Erdogan said he was "very scared" of his flatmate and said he had picked up the knife to protect himself.

In a statement to the court Zengi's mother, Meryem Canli, expressed the impact that the death has had: "My youngest son, Fatih Zengi was brutally killed.

"As the youngest in the family, I had raised him with a different kind of affection compared to his siblings. For this reason when I received news of his death, I remained in shock for a long time."

Fatih's brother, Burak Zengi, paid his own tribute: "My brother Fatih was the most beloved member of our family. He did everything he could for us, both financially and emotionally.

"Since his death I have felt a void in the world. I feel as if I have lost my sense of reality. Being in limbo is a terrible state. I feel as if I have lost my sense of reality. I feel utterly shattered. My brother provided for the entire family's livelihood."

Zengi was found with critical injuries in Manchester Road by a passing cyclist.

Emergency services were at the scene "within minutes", but were unable to save Zengi's life due to the severity of his injuries.

He was pronounced dead at 06:42 BST.

Upon hearing the verdict, Judge HHJ Blake thanked the jury for their "careful and focused attention" on what has been a "difficult and distressing case".

Erdogan is due to be sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Friday.

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