A convicted killer is due in court next week to fight for his gay lover's fortune.

Dominic Dalton, who strangled his senile partner with a dressing gown cord, has obtained legal aid and will be taken from his cell in a Welsh prison to the High Court in London for the eight-day hearing.

The 42-year-old was convicted in July 2001 of the manslaughter of former society hairdresser Bernard Murphy at the home they shared in Brighton.

It is this £250,000, two-bedroom house in Crown Street, Kemp Town, which is at the centre of the legal wrangle.

Mr Murphy named his killer as main beneficiary in his will but the dead man's family maintain Dalton, also a former hairdresser, ought to forfeit the bequest.

Many of Mr Murphy's relatives and friends will be called to give evidence before Justice Patten when the case starts tomorrow.

His nephew, 47-year-old Alan Milner, of Kemp Town, said feelings were running high.

He said: "We have spent literally thousands of pounds fighting this case and Mr Dalton is legally-aided and simply sitting in his cell. It isn't right."

Another witness will be former cabaret star Peter Gee, who was a long-term close friend of Mr Murphy.

Dalton was sentenced to six years for the manslaughter of his lover, after a judge at Lewes Crown Court stopped the trial and ordered the jury to find him not guilty of murder. The family criticised the sentence as too lenient.

The court was told how Dalton strangled his 79-year-old partner after he became unable to cope with Mr Murphy's worsening Alzheimer's disease.

Dalton is now serving his sentence at Parc Prison in Bridgend, South Wales.

The dead man's assets have been frozen until the outcome of the case is decided.

They include £35,000 in Mr Murphy's bank account and items of antique furniture.

Mr Murphy's family said at the time of Dalton's conviction they would prefer the fortune to go to a worthy cause rather than the killer.