Two Sussex detectives were disciplined yesterday for their roles in a bungled murder inquiry.

Detective Inspector Martin Sapwell received two cautions and Detective Inspector Andy Young was reprimanded.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) concluded there was "graphic evidence" the investigation had "suffered from disorganisation and was not given sufficient resources".

Jay Abatan, a 42-year-old father of two, died after being attacked at a taxi rank outside the Ocean Rooms club in Morley Street, Brighton, in 1999.

Manslaughter charges against two men were dropped because of a lack of evidence. One of the men later hanged himself.

Complaints by Mr Abatan's family that the killing had not been investigated fully prompted reviews of the Sussex Police inquiry.

A total of 57 inconsistencies, failures and inexplicable decisions were highlighted in one investigation.

The victim's family has been fighting Sussex Police to release an inquiry report by Avon and Somerset Police but the force has refused.

In announcing the disciplinary hearing results, David Petch, IPCC commissioner for Sussex, backed the family.

He said: "We have urged the force to release a full copy of the Avon and Somerset report to the family and are disappointed Sussex Police could not agree to this.

"However, the commission welcomes the decision by Deputy Chief Constable Joe Edwards to meet the family, to offer an extensive written account of the investigation to them and to furnish them with an explanation of the changes which have been introduced in Sussex Police since 1999 to improve performance on major investigations."

Mr Abatan's brother Michael said the family was not satisfied and they would be suing Sussex Police and possibly making further complaints to the IPCC.

He said: "We want justice for Jay and we want to know why he was not given it. Sussex Police, I believe, chose not to give Jay justice."

The names of the disciplined officers were revealed by Mr Abatan's familly who attended the hearings.