MATTHEW Daley has been found guilty of manslaughter of great grandfather Don Lock

He stabbed the 79-year-old 39 times on the side of the road after a shunt between their cars on July 16 last year. 

The 35-year-old denied murder claiming diminished responsibility on the grounds of his mental health problems. 

Daley of St Elmo Road, Worthing, sat emotionless in the dock flanked by two people.

Mr Justice Singh adjourned sentencing to July 8.

As the not guilty of murder charged was announced, the Lock family left the court room in tears before hearing the manslaughter verdict was announced.

Mr Lock's daughter Sandra told reporters: "I just want to say one thing. There is no justice anymore. Never. It's just not fair."

The court heard how Daley had slammed on the brakes while driving last year, causing Mr Lock to crash into the back of his car. 

The Argus: The scene of the Don Lock stabbingThe scene of the Don Lock stabbing

He stabbed Mr Lock with a knife he had in the car after the retired solicitor walked over to find out what happened. 

The Argus: Matthew Daley's Ford FusionMatthew Daley's Ford Fusion

The trial heard conflicting evidence from psychiatrists, with his defence arguing he was psychotic at the time of the attack and the prosecution arguing he was not. 

He had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder but doctors now believe he also had paranoid schizophrenia.  

The Argus:

The Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has apologised for failings in his care, saying they should have listened to his family more. 

Mr Lock had been returning from a cycling meeting when he we stabbed to death by Daley on the evening of July 16 last year. 

Mr Lock's family including his widow Maureen have been watching the trial every day.

Mr Lock's son Andrew said in a statement read outside Lewes Crown Court: "From the consequences of the failings of the NHS, it is clear that Dad would still have been here today.

"All the NHS has achieved is let us down and let a man in their care down.

"Nothing they can say or do now will bring Dad back to us." 

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Colm Donaghy said in a statement: "On behalf of the Trust, I apologise unreservedly because the care we provided to Matthew Daley should have been better.

"I also want to offer my sincere condolences to the family of Don Lock and everyone else affected by this tragic, devastating incident.

"Mr Daley was referred to our services in January 2008. He received treatment from our early intervention service, which helps people who are starting to experience the symptoms of psychosis.

"He was later transferred to the care of one of our community mental health teams where he received treatment for a combination of Asperger’s syndrome (a form of autism) and psychosis.

"Having reviewed his care, it’s clear that we should have reviewed Mr Daley’s diagnosis, looked at other ways of providing treatment, done more to help him manage his symptoms of psychosis and listened to his family more closely.

"We got things wrong. But I do not believe that any of our staff acted in a way which was deliberately negligent or designed to cause harm.

"They knew Mr Daley well and believed they were doing the right things to help him. We will do things differently as a result of this tragic incident.

"The care and treatment we provided will now be subject to an independent inquiry commissioned by NHS England.

"In the meantime, we have commissioned our own independent review, jointly with NHS England, of all homicides from 2011 to 2016 involving patients known to Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

"We have done this because we want the public, people who use our services and the organisations which commission them to be assured that we have done everything we should have in response to these tragic cases. We will publish this report in full."

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Rymarz, who led the investigation for Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said: "This is a tragic case for all those involved and both families have had their lives changes forever.

"It happened in a peaceful area of West Sussex on a busy road which thousands of people use regularly. It came out of the blue and when it happened, it was horrific for all first responders and witnesses.

"What has struck us is how dignified Don’s family have been throughout the whole investigation. We have been humbled by them and I hope the trial have provided them with some answers so they can somehow find closure after what was a horrific incident.

"I would also like to thank all those involved in investigating the case, from the first responders, the forensics and all the investigation team who brought this to court."

The Argus: Maureen and Andrew LockMaureen and Andrew Lock Maureen and Andrew Lock

Mr Lock's family released a statement via Sussex Police.

It said: “Today's manslaughter verdict brings to a close the most horrific 10 months of our lives and brings some sort of justice for dad, although very little comfort is taken from it.

“This verdict effectively provides the Daley family with what they have wanted for the last few years, their son in a safe place away from harm’s way and being treated correctly. For them they can still visit their son, hug him and talk to him and enjoy aspects of his life with him albeit constrained at the same time. For us all we can do is cling on to the wonderful memories of dad.

“As a consequence of the failings of the NHS and this verdict it is clear that dad would still be here today if they had done their job properly.

“Nothing we say or do now will bring dad back to us, but we will continue the spirit that dad carried with him, through the family, our friends and the many people with whom dad had had such an impact over the course of his life.

“It is clear now to all, that this incident confirms nothing more than that Dad was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“Dad would never hurt a fly, let alone another human being and having to re-live the nature and extent of dad's injuries is something we would not wish on our worst enemy.

“It is upsetting to hear that the NHS has taken the trouble to write to the Daley family to apologise for their failings, yet we as a family have received nothing in writing ourselves.

“The family are deeply grateful to all those witnesses that gave statements, especially Abby & Jasmine Smith and Andrew Slater, who stood in the witness box and re-lived what they saw unfold in front of their eyes. Also, to the various people at the scene who tried in vain to help dad although we know now that it was almost certain one of the earliest wounds punctured his Aorta and from this point on he would have known very little. We hope that all of these wonderful people can try and move on in their lives as well now and not suffer any further in their thoughts.

“Dad has left huge holes to fill in both our family and in the cycling world too.

“Dad was the glue that held the family together and the oil that removed any friction at the same time. We all now have to find new ways to continue what dad created from when Sandra and I were first born to the day he died. A close family that had learnt respect, how to laugh, how to love and how to always be there for those that needed you most. As we have said before, he always knew the right thing to say at the right time, in the right way.

“In the cycling world, dad's beloved Worthing Excelsior Cycling Club has had to come to terms with the loss too, many members missing his encouragement and support, the snippets of advice or even the holler from the side of the road encouraging the racing members to "get a move on" as he would often put it.

"In fact it was only a week or two before dad's passing when after one of the previous club race meetings at Washington, when seeking out my time for the event, said to me, "that's not a time, that's a date". Dad had the art of mixing humour and criticism in such a way that all it did was spur you on to do better.

“Our last thank-you's must go to Sussex Police and specifically Paul Rymarz, Duncan Elliott and Barbara Douglas for all their hard work in securing this verdict but significantly Laura Carron, our Family Liaison Officer who has been an absolute rock for us and who now is having to deal with her own health issues. We wish you a speedy and full recovery Laura. We must also thank Phil Bennetts QC, who has understood the family from the beginning, listened to our thoughts and conducted the trial in impeccable fashion to secure this verdict.

"We shall leave you now to go and establish the new normal in our lives and continue dad's wonderful spirit.

“Love you dad and Up the Albion.”