Murderer

It took a jury at Lewes Crown Court less than three hours to convict the 40-year-old Broadwater man of Grant Flame's murder.

Mr Flame, 44, bled to death outside Morris' flat in Broadwater Road on January 24, after his jugular vein was severed in a drunken row over food and the situation in Iraq.

Speaking exclusively to the Herald, Detective Inspector Jeff Riley, senior officer in charge of the investigation, said both the police and Mr Flame's family were content justice had been done.

He said: "The police are extremely satisfied with the result at Lewes Crown Court on Tuesday.

"The family do not wish to be interviewed at this time but would like me to stress Grant was a caring and loving father and brother who will be sadly missed.

"They are content justice has been done."

Detective Inspector Riley added: "Our thoughts go out to Mr Flame's family, particularly his daughters, who have been left without a father."

Mr Flame sustained an horrific 14cm long, 2cm deep wound and died before paramedics arrived at the scene.

Morris is severely hard of hearing and has a speech impediment and followed proceedings throughout his two-week trial with the help of a team of

interpreters using sign language.

He claimed he had acted in self defence.

But the prosecutor had previously told the court: "The method used to kill Grant Flame was both brutal and final, giving him no chance of survival."

Jailing him, Judge Richard Brown said Morris, fuelled with alcohol and because of the row, had "viciously killed an unarmed man".

Mr Flame's family sat in the public gallery and broke down when the jury returned its verdict.