Chilling final selfie of best mates hours before one stabbed the other to death

Jonathan Carr and Daniel Smith pose for a selfie in the hours before the murder (Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

This is the chilling final selfie of best mates hours before one stabbed the other to death.

Daniel Smith, 21, was convicted of murder after stabbing Jonathan Carr in the chest before fleeing as he lay dying on his bedroom floor.

Jurors at Newcastle Crown Court took just two hours to convict Smith of murder after he had claimed he was acting in self-defence.

He is now facing a life behind bars when he is sentenced on Wednesday for the drink and drug fuelled attack that took place at Mr Carr's home in Gateshead, Newcastle.

After seeing their loved one's killer brought to justice, Jonathan's family released a statement paying tribute to the popular young man with a "heart of gold", reports Chronicle Live.

They said: "Jonny was popular and well-liked by his friends. He had a heart of gold and was gorgeous with his friends, helping in any way he could.

"It is such a loss and we miss him every day, his smile and his laugh, it is such a hole in our lives as we will never see him again. He was 21 and had the whole of his life ahead of him."

Daniel Smith was convicted of murdering Jonathan Carr (Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

Jonathan Carr, Smith and Smith's cousin, Steven Morrison, had been drinking and taking drugs at Jonathan's home in Gateshead, Newcastle, on the evening of July 31.

Smith and Mr Carr then got into a row, during which Smith picked up a kitchen knife and stabbed him in the chest.

Smith then fled the address before waking the next day and telling his mother he thought he might have stabbed Mr Carr.

After getting no answer at Mr Carr's flat, his mother took him to a police station where Smith told officers he wanted to know if his friend was okay.

The court was told how police then forced entry into Mr Carr's home and found him lying dead in the living room of his address.

Smith, also of Gateshead, a dad-of-one, was then arrested by police and charged with murder.

Following the case, senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Aelf Sampson said it was "tragic for everyone involved".

She said: "This is an awful case that has ultimately robbed the world of a 21-year-old man who had his entire life ahead of him.

"His family have been left devastated by his death and have been in court every day of the criminal trial.

"I don't doubt that Daniel Smith cared for Jonathan but he has refused to accept responsibility for his actions that night.

"He stabbed his friend in the heart and then fled the address without raising any alarm, giving him no chance of survival.

"If he loved him like a brother then he would have rang police that evening and handed himself in.

"Now he faces spending the majority of his life behind bars and he will not be around to see his young daughter grow up.

"This has been a tragic case for everyone involved but I hope today's conviction gives Jonathan's family some justice."

Footage shown during the trial showed Smith in an agitated state in the hour before he killed Jonathan.

He was captured on CCTV heavily intoxicated in a local fish and chip shop, where he was arguing with staff and his Mr Morrison.

Via Mirror

My view: This is so sad and tragic.