Britain's Got Talent finalist Simonne Kerr murdered by Iraq war veteran

GUILTY: Desmond Sylva murdered Simonne Kerr (Pic: PA)

BGT finalist Simonne Kerr was found stabbed to death at her home in London, with wounds to her face and neck.

Desmond Sylva initially pleaded guilty to manslaughter, citing depression.

But a jury at the Old Bailey found Sylva, 41, guilty.

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The court heard how Simonne Kerr was "butchered" in her Clapham home.

FRENZY: Sylva stabbed Simonne 70 times (Pic: PA)

B POSITIVE: Simonne shot to fame with the group on X-Factor (Pic: FACEBOOK)

Sylva knifed his "on-off girlfriend" more than 70 times in a frenzied attack.

He attacked her in bed with a 20cm kitchen knife, slashing her throat and repeatedly stabbing her face and neck.

Afterwards, he called 999 and said: "I've just committed a murder. I'm ex-Army and I've got lots of mental health issues."

Prosecutor Oliver Glasgow QC told jurors it was an all too familiar case of "sexual desire, appalling violence and desperate lies".

FINALISTS: B Positive were a hit on the X-Factor (Pic: ITV)

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TRAGIC: Simonne lost her son Kavele aged six (Pic: FACEBOOK)

He said: "He wanted to restart a sexual relationship with Simonne Kerr. When he did not get what he wanted, he could not control his anger and he exploded."

Sylva made no reaction as the jury delivered their verdict after three days.

Ms Kerr shot to fame with NHS choir B Positive on the ITV hit show Britain's Got Talent.

Her six-year-old son Kavele tragically died of sickle cell disease.

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Louise Attrill from CPS London said: “This was a shocking attack on a woman who was busy dedicating her life to worthwhile causes. Having lost her six-year-old son to sickle cell disease, she was campaigning to raise awareness of the illness."

"The fact that her partner, a man she should have trusted without doubt, could end all of this in a fit of rage makes this even harder to comprehend.”