A judge has praised the “extraordinary” family of a murder victim for their dignity throughout his killer’s trial.

Mustafa Momand was stabbed to death in a busy city centre street after running for his life from his teenage attacker.

Now, after the jury returned a unanimous verdict convicting his killer, Mustafa’s parents were applauded for their “moving” dignity throughout proceedings.

Justice Adam Constable KC, presiding over the case, said to Mustafa’s parents: “I know how distressing this has been for you.

“The way you have dealt with it has been extraordinary.

“You have dealt with it with a great deal of dignity and that has been very moving.”

His mum replied: “Thank you.”

Mustafa’s attacker, who cannot be named for legal reasons, smirked and shook his head as he was remanded in custody following the verdict this afternoon.

The trial in Brighton heard how the teenager, 16, “plunged” a kitchen knife into Mustafa’s chest over a £20,000 drug debt.

Mustafa, 17, “ran for his life” for around 150 metres before collapsing in Queen’s Road seconds away from Brighton railway station.

He was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital where surgeons performed emergency surgery by opening up his chest and sewing up his pulmonary artery.

They also gave him 16 litres of blood but Mustafa was pronounced dead at 6.40pm. The stabbing happened just before 5pm.

The attacker fled through central Brighton to Bevendean where police arrested him initially on suspicion of attempted murder. They further arrested him on suspicion of murder when they learnt that Mustafa was dead.

He discarded his balaclava and a glove he wore during the attack in a wheelie bin in Bevendean Crescent. His knife was never found.

The attacker, from Southwick, told the jury he left the house after an argument with his parents and got the first train he could which happened to be Brighton. He said he hid his face because of being self-conscious about his acne.

Mustafa Momand’s killer will automatically serve a life sentence after being found guilty of murder.

Justice Constable will set a minimum term before which he can apply for parole.

Mustafa’s killer will be sentenced on May 2.