Squatters have occupied an empty home that was the scene of a grisly murder.

The empty Regency property in Russell Square, Brighton, has been reoccupied by squatters just months after a body was found in the property.

In January, the battered body of 39-year-old father-of-three Craig Palmer was found inside the building.

The house is the former home of Regency Society member Ken Kennar who inherited the property from his aunt and uncle and lived in the house from 1938 until his death last year.

The ownership of the property is currently being settled through legal proceedings and is expected to be passed to Mr Kennar’s family.

His family are also hoping to place a bench or tree in the square in his memory and the Regency Society has offered to make a contribution to the cost.

Regency Society chairman Roger Hinton said that the house was notorious within the squat community so the new occupants of the building were more than likely aware of its recent past.

He added: “It’s very sad to see what’s happened to the house since Ken lived there but I don’t think we are in the same situation as before.

“The squatters are not being difficult to neighbours.

“The door was damaged when they entered into the flat but that has now been repaired.”

Four suspects are in custody awaiting trial for the murder of Mr Palmer, whose body was found murdered on the fourth floor of the property on January 15.

The body was discovered by police during a routine eviction of the squat.

Ireneusz Malesza, 28, John Battams, 40, Mike Zur, 28, and Bartlomiej Szostek, 27, all of no fixed address, have been accused of murder and are in custody awaiting a hearing at Lewes Crown Court.