A disciplinary inquiry has been launched into the way Sussex Police handled a suspected racist murder investigation.

The Police Complaints Authority (PCA) said last night it was to review the initial stages of the investigation into the death of Jay Abatan following complaints from his family.

Officers involved in the case are being investigated by Avon and Somerset Police almost four years after accountant Mr Abatan, from Eastbourne, was attacked outside a nightclub in Brighton.

The PCA yesterday said it was too early to draw parallels with the case of murdered black teenager Stephen Lawrence.

The inquiry comes after members of Mr Abatan's family made statements detailing their complaints about the investigation.

Father-of-two Mr Abatan, 42, died five days after suffering a blow to the head outside the Ocean Rooms nightclub in Morley Street, Brighton, in January 1999. Police believe he had been involved in a dispute over a taxi.

His attacker or attackers have yet to be convicted, despite a £175,000 reward.

No-one has been charged with his murder although two people were charged with manslaughter.

One of the charges was withdrawn and the other was dismissed, both at committal stage.

The same two people were then charged and later cleared of affray and causing actual bodily harm to Michael Abatan, Jay Abatan's brother, who was with him at the time.

The reputation of Sussex Police under former Chief Constable Paul Whitehouse was seriously dented by criticism of its handling of the case.

A previous review by Essex Police in February 2001 was critical of the investigation.

Sussex Police launched a reinvestigation into the case in November 2000, which is ongoing and not the subject of complaints.

The PCA inquiry is being supervised by PCA member David Petch and carried out by Avon and Somerset Chief Constable Steve Pilkington.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "I can confirm Avon and Somerset are carrying out an investigation."

In August, Mr Abatan's family said they would consider bringing a private prosecution if it was decided there was no chance of getting a criminal conviction in the case.