Killer 'is stress disorder victim'

Brian Rudwick, 34, of Tarner Road, Brighton, has denied murdering Bill Davey.

Mr Davey, 41, was stabbed six times with a combat knife outside his home in Nuthurst Place, Whitehawk, Brighton, on February 15.

Rudwick, a former jailer for Brighton magistrates, has told Lewes Crown Court he accepts he killed the father of six but says he has no memory of the incident.

The court heard there had been a history of ill feeling between the men.

On the night of the killing, Rudwick said he went for a walk and found himself near the home of Mr Davey, who was walking his dog.

Rudwick said he remembers fighting with Mr Davey in the street.

He said Mr Davey attacked him first and threatened to kill Carol, his wife, and the children. But the next thing he could recall was walking home with blood on his hands.

The court heard Rudwick, who suffers from headaches and temporary blackouts, first went to his doctor for help with mental health problems in 1999. He was referred to a neurologist and psychiatrist.

Dr Angus Nisbet, a consultant neurologist who treated Rudwick, said he was suffering from disassociation disorder, which affects people who have had painful psychological experiences.

He said on the night of the killing Rudwick showed symptoms of suffering from a disassociation episode.

He said: "The thought process is inaccessible to the normal flow of consciousness so that at a later date you may be unable to recall the emotions and thoughts. Possibly the reason for disassociation is to protect the brain from a traumatic incident."

He said the symptoms Rudwick suffered might be due to shell-shock and post traumatic stress disorder.

He suggested the disorder could be caused by Rudwick's difficult and abusive childhood, traumatic incidents while he was serving in the Army in Northern Ireland and the ending of his first marriage and later loss of contact with his two children.

The trial continues.