A man declared he was “not a murderer” when he appeared at the Old Bailey accused of killing his 78-year-old landlord.

Miroslav Ivanov, 35, is charged over the death of Mustafa Yildirim, with whom he lived in Bermondsey.

The defendant was initially charged with assault after Mr Yildirim suffered a head injury in April last year.

Following the victim’s release from hospital he suffered a bleed to the brain and died.

Meanwhile, the defendant had been bailed by police and returned to Bulgaria where his wife and children live.

He returned to the UK on July 29 and was re-interviewed and charged with Mr Yildirim’s murder.

Before the incident, the defendant was living at the victim’s home in Jamaica Road, Bermondsey.

On Wednesday, Ivanov, now of no fixed address, appeared at the Old Bailey for a preliminary hearing.

With the assistance of a Bulgarian interpreter, Ivanov spoke to confirm his identity and date of birth by video link from Thameside prison.

He then told the court: “I’m not a murderer because he attacked me.

“It’s not that I attacked him. I’m not the type of character for the general public to be afraid of.”

The defendant was represented via video link by a solicitor due to the barristers’ strike.

Judge Simon Mayo set a plea hearing for October 19 and remanded the defendant into custody.

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