A WOOLWICH killer claimed the case against him was "cock-a-doo crap" and branded a judge "despicable" in a bizarre rant after being convicted of murdering his wife.

Bentley Huggins, aged 42, was yesterday found guilty of murdering Desirie Thomas at their home in Elliston House, Wellington Street, on December 23 last year.

During a short appearance in court today, Huggins, who ditched his defence lawyers halfway through the Old Bailey trial, fumed at the way his case had been conducted.

Asked by Judge Anthony Morris if he wanted to be represented at sentencing, Huggins raged: "From the beginning of this trial I was never going to get a fair trial.

"The manner in which the police have conducted their investigation - they have strong-handed, intimidated and invented witnesses."

Judge Morris said he intended to adjourn sentencing for pre-sentence and psychiatric reports, but Huggins continued to complain.

He said: "Your honour, it will not happen. You might as well sentence me today. It would not happen. Period."

Huggins went on: "You've conducted this trial in a most utterly and absolutely despicable way."

The killer branded his case a "Willie Lynch trial", a reference to an American slave owner, and told the judge: "You've brought people speaking cock-a-doo crap about me."

Huggins, in the UK on a marriage visa, had always claimed he acted in self-defence when he stabbed his 35-year-old wife 10 times in the head and neck.

But jurors unanimously agreed he had killed her in cold blood after finding out she planned to divorce him.

Sentencing was adjourned until October 18.