Man found guilty of Worthing 'road rage' killing of 79-year-old pensioner

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A man has been found guilty of killing a 79-year-old pensioner by stabbing him 39 times following a low-speed collision between their two vehicles.

Matthew Daley, 35, was convicted of manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility, after the trial at Lewes Crown Court heard he had suffered from mental health problems for 10 years.

The victim, Donald Lock, was a retired solicitor. His wife of 55 years, Maureen, was present to hear evidence throughout the trial.

Daley attacked Mr Lock after his Toyota crashed into the back of Daley's Ford Fusion at around 16mph on the A24 at Findon, near Worthing, West Sussex, on 16 July last year. The crash caused minor damage to both cars.

Jurors heard how a "calm" Mr Lock got out of his car to ask Daley why he had braked so suddenly.

Daley then attacked him with a knife while remaining calm "like Jesus Christ".

As Daley stabbed Mr Lock with a four-and-a-half inch knife, he allegedly told him to "die, you f***ing c***".

Passer-by Andrew Slater tried to remonstrate Daley but retreated to his car when he saw the knife in Daley's clenched fist.

Mr Lock died at the scene from a stab wound to the aorta.

The jury heard how Daley had suffered mental health problems for 10 years, and his family had "pleaded" with experts to sanction him.

His mother Lynda Daley told jurors he was never given a proper diagnosis, that they had not been listened to by health professionals and how they often lived in a state of anxiety.

Ms Daley revealed how he confessed to the killing just as she was about to enter a police station over fears he may be involved following media reports.

He told her: "I need to know where you are and that I can trust you." He then said he had done "something really bad or something really wrong".

In a quiet voice, he went on: "I killed someone", before adding: "I want you to think about what I just said and ring me back in 10 minutes."

Daley did not give evidence at the trial, but spoke in detail about the moments leading up to the confrontation in a videoed police interview.

He described feeling "threatened and afraid" as he claiming Mr Lock tailgated him while allegedly shouting obscenities from behind his wheel.

Daley added: "I'm not happy that the man has died. I'm not happy that in the final minutes of his life he was in that much pain, and I don't want to be reminded of it.

"I feel very sorry about what I have done and I don't want to see anything like that happen in my lifetime again."

Forensic psychiatrist Dr Roderick Ley said he believed Daley had been wrongly diagnosed with Asperger's and had an underlying paranoid schizophrenic illness that was undiagnosed for years.

Another expert, consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Philip Joseph, said Daley was not psychotic at the time of the killing, pointing to the absence of audio hallucinations as an example.

Donald Lock was described as a "kind, gentle and fair man" who had recently celebrated 55 years of marriage to his wife Maureen, with whom he had two children, Andrew and Sandra.

Paying tribute following his father's death, Andrew said he was "full of wisdom, full of wit, always calm, always supportive, the perfect role model, and full of charm".

Additional reporting by PA