A youth has admitted his part in an attack which led to the death of Gary Rae, a court heard.

But the 17-year-old's barrister said this did not make him guilty of murder.

In her closing speech to the jury, Anesta Weekes, QC, said the juvenile wanted to take responsibility for his actions.

She reminded them that the youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denies murder but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

She added that he had admitted hitting Mr Rae twice on the legs with a baseball bat. He had told the jury he joined in the attack because he did not want to look foolish in front of the others by not doing so.

But he had insisted the injuries inflicted by him did not lead to Mr Rae's death.

Mr Rae, 40, died after he was allegedly attacked by six teenagers outside his flat in High Street, Hailsham, on May 29 last year.

Prosecutor Paul Lewis, QC, alleges William Devall, 19, got the gang together to attack Mr Rae.

Devall has admitted hitting Mr Rae over the head and body with another baseball bat. He denies murder but admits manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

It was claimed Devall was jealous because his ex-girlfriend Amy Heaseman had been visiting Mr Rae's flat with other teenagers.

Devall wrongly believed she was sleeping with the divorced father-of-two, Hove Crown Court heard during an eight-week trial.

Miss Weekes, in her closing speech to the jury yesterday, reminded them her 17-year-old client suffers from attention deficit hyperactive disorder. The trial continues.