diminished responsibility

Dr Ian Cumming, a consultant psychiatrist, told jurors at Brighton Law Courts five psychiatrists had carried out reports on Martin and there was "uncertainty about the defence of diminished responsibility".

Shaine March, 47, of Surrey Quays, south-east London, initially admitted manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility and denied murder, but pleaded guilty partway through the trial.

The suspect "has been suffering from a mental illness for many years" and "it cannot be ruled out that he had diminished responsibility at the time of the offence", they said.

Isaacs, 39, who moved from Botswana to the East Lothian town, had claimed diminished responsibility but was found guilty last month.

Having endured a wait of more than two years for the case go to trial, their families have now seen Derek Martin found guilty of murder despite his attempts to claim diminished responsibility.