TWO men have been cleared of murdering a rival in a dispute that started in a mosque.

Basharit Hussain, 26, and his 18-year-old nephew Arfan Hussain from Woodlands Road, Middlesbrough, Tees-side, were acquitted after a 13-day trial.

They had denied murdering Middlesbrough mosque secretary Ali Rehman after he was alleged to have been violent towards Basharit's father.

However, Basharit - known as Bishy - was convicted by the jury at Teesside Crown Court of manslaughter, and sentence on him was adjourned for reports.

Mr Rehman, of Pinewood Road, Marton, a computer engineering student at Teesside University was stabbed to death with an eight-and-a-half- inch knife wound to the chest.

The 30-year-old joint mosque secretary, who died instantly during the confrontation in Abingdon Road, Middlesbrough, was also a part-time taxi driver and a father of six.

Superintendent Graham Strange, who led the investigation, said after the verdicts: "A clear warning must be given to those prepared to carry knives that the decision to use them may be spontaneous, but the impact of their use can last forever. It has left a scar on the Middlesbrough Muslim community.

The prosecution alleged that Basharit went seeking revenge over his father, and that Arfan gave him support.

Shopkeeper Basharit told the jury that he did not deliberately stab Mr Rehman, who also had a knife. He denied a claim by a witness that he shouted toward the mosque: "Ali Rehman is a dead man."

Graham Hyland, QC, defending Basharit said he recognised that there was little alternative to a prison sentence.

Basharit was remanded in custody for four weeks and sentence will be passed in London.

Arfan was cleared of manslaughter over the death last September, and walked free from court.