The family of slain teenager Nilanthan Murddi described his killer as a “monster” as a jury found him guilty of murder.

Father-of-four Stephen Braithwaite, 31, was convicted on Friday of stabbing the teenager after previously racially abusing him from the back of a taxi.

Tamil student Nilanthan, 17, and a group of friends were celebrating a birthday by drinking in a car park at the top of Sumner Road in the early hours of August 16 last year.

Friends of Nilanthan told the court he was drunk and starting fights with people passing by.

One of those was Braithwaite, an unemployed labourer, who yelled “Pakis” at the group from the back of a passing cab.

Christopher Kinch, QC prosecuting told the court Nilanthan went “ballistic” and tried to pull Braithwaite from the cab.

About 20 minutes after the cab drove off, Braithwaite returned to the group swigging from a can of lager to finish his argument with Nilanthan in a brutal fashion, and stabbed him in the neck with a knife.

Usha Muralitharan, Nilanthan’s aunt spoke to the Croydon Guardian on behalf of his close-knit family.

She sat through the trial with Nilanthan’s father Ramappillai, his mother Kalaimagal and sister Santhiya as well as his cousins who were there for support.

She said: “He was an innocent, family person and this violent man took his life just like that. He was like a monster.

“Now we are waiting for the sentence. We hope he will be in prison for a long time to think about what he has done to my little nephew.”

She said her brother’s anguish over Nilanthan’s death was so great he had moved the family away from New Addington.

Nilanthan’s mother and sister were in India visiting family when he was murdered.

Mrs Muralitharan added: “My brother was home alone when Nilanthan died. The last time he saw him he told his father he was going to be late home.

“After he died my brother walked around the house and said ‘he [Nilanthan] was here, he was there.’ “The memories were too painful – that is the reason they moved to High Wycombe.

“Nilanthan was a big love for my brother.

“He had business ideas. My brother always asked his opinion on what he should do – he was so proud of him.

“My husband died four years ago. Nilanthan always came to my house and asked me if he could help, “The media said he was violent and he was in a gang. It has made us really sick to hear my little nephew given a bad name.

“Boys will have a good time. People must understand Nilanthan was not a violent person, he did not usually hang around on the street.

“He wanted to enjoy his life like most teenage boys, he liked to go out.

“We hope now he can rest in peace.”

Braithwaite has been remanded in custody until sentencing on July 3.