A man who strangled his sister to death believed his chicken dinner was possessed by the devil, a court has heard.

Khalid Ashraf, 32, choked his sister Sarah to death when she visited his London apartment in January, Metropolitan Police said.

After the killing, he told police he'd been instructed to do so by Satan and his Buddhist teacher.

The court was told Ashraf had been suffering from depression after learning he was HIV-positive, Metro UK reported.

Sister was worried

His sister had come to stay with him at his two-bedroom London flat after becoming worried about his mental health.

He had told her that "the chicken on his plate had been talking to him," the court heard.

Prosecutor James Mulholland said Ashraf admitted to killing his sister, saying, "Satan whispers into people's ears and he used manipulation and lies to commit acts."

Khalid Ashraf told police Satan had told him to kill his sister. Credit: Metropolitan Police

Officers were called to the man's apartment after a neighbour noticed blood on his front door on the evening on January 5.

When they arrived, the blood had gone, but Sarah Ashraf's body was found in a bedroom of the apartment.

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Khalid Ashraf underwent a mental health assessment and was diagnosed with paranoid psychosis.

It was established that he was mentally ill at the time of his sister's killing.

Chevron Right Icon 'The chicken on his plate had been talking to him.'

Judge Richard Marks QC said the case was 'tragic" and said Sarah Ashraf had cared for Khalid like a mother.

The prosecution accepted his admission to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

He has been detained in a mental health institution until he is deemed to pose no risk to the public.