A HOSPITAL porter from Leyton has been cleared of murder.

Dean Cox, 23, of Sedgwick Road, was found not guilty at the Old Bailey on Friday of the racist killing of an Asian chef.

But the three people he was with at the time of the killing were found guilty of murder and manslaughter and are now facing life sentences.

Father of two Shiblu Rahman, 35, was mercilessly battered and stabbed as he clawed at his front door.

A 16-year-old boy, who wielded the knife, was found guilty of murdering the Bangladeshi as he walked to his home in Rounton Road, Bow, after work.

Terry Cooper, 18, and a 17-year-old were convicted of manslaughter.

But Cooper, the 17-year-old, and Cox were each found not guilty of murder.

Cooper and the other teenagers, who had been drinking heavily, attacked the chef as he approached the flat he shared with his wife and two daughters.

The victim was heard by witnesses to beg: "Please stop, what have I done to you?"

The gang shouted back "Shut up, you Paki" and continued the attack.

Mr Rahman managed to crawl to his flat on his hands and knees, screaming for help in a voice so pitiful his wife did not recognise it.

The final death blows were inflicted as he begged for mercy at his front door.

The jury was told that pictures of Cox in a British Bulldog T-shirt clutching a knife had been found at the Mile End Hospital where he worked as a porter.

There was also a flag with the words "Official Hooligan", but the evidence was ruled inadmissible because of fears it would prejudice the jury.

In defence, Cooper, of Bow, and Cox blamed the teenagers who in turn said the other pair were responsible.

Cox said he had drunk 15 pints of lager and seven shots of Jack Daniels with his grandmother before he bumped into his pals when walking home.

He said the teenagers were nursing cuts from a fight.

Explaining his bloodied shirt Cox said: "I used the shirt for my friend's nose. It's not my nature I wouldn't want to see anyone hurt. If I see two people injured I would attend to them."

Cox was also cleared of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

The search of Cox's belongings at the hospital revealed a collection of chilling photos. One showed him in the bulldog T-shirt lying back on a bed and grinning proudly at his two daggers.

They were taken on a stag weekend in Amsterdam, where Cox was also pictured posing with a giant bulldog mascot.

Judge Richard Hawkins, QC, adjourned sentencing the three until December 15 for reports and remanded them in custody.

Cooper and the two teenagers launched the attack using fists and boots.

One resident who saw the attack saw the 16-year-old knife Rahman at the door and another said it appeared as if the gang members were taking it in turns to attack him.

They were heard "rapping" and "chanting" as they fled the scene.

Police spoke to Cox and Cooper as they sat on a wall just minutes after the killing.

"The defendants seemed happy and were larking about in front of the police officers," said prosecutor Mr Loraine-Smith.

Cooper was heard laughing with the 17-year-old at his nearby flat later that day. The 17-year-old was also found guilty of perverting the course of justice by burning the shirt he wore during the attack.