Police officers have been praised after frantic attempts to save the life of an imam fatally stabbed by his stepson in a row over a television.

Moynul Haque, 18, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Mohammed Zillur-Rahman, 43, a leader at Chadwell Heath Mosque at the Old Bailey in February.

He was sentenced to five years in a young offenders’ institute at Wood Green Crown Court in April.

Haque was 17 when the dispute broke out at the family home in Melford Avenue, Barking, in October last year.

An argument over Haque moving a television into his bedroom led to him picking up a knife from the kitchen and stabbing Mr Zillur-Rahman once in the heart after a struggle.

Sgt Mark Pitcher and Pc Dan Harvey tried in vain to resuscitate the imam after attending the incident.

Their colleague, Pc Roofa Pervez, used her language skills to talk to his wife and found out Haque had stabbed him.

The officers were awarded police commendations at Dagenham and Redbridge Football Club in Victoria Road, Dagenham, on Wednesday.

A Met police spokesman said: “Despite heroic measures taken by the officers, the victm died from his injuries at the hospital.

“The suspect was located, detained and later charged.

“These officers coped incredibly well in horrendous circumstances.”

Judges rejected an appeal to have Haque’s sentence reduced at the court of appeal on August 09.