A paranoid schizophrenic stamped his neighbour to death weeks after being released from a mental health unit.
Derek Field killed his lifelong friend, 56-year-old Sean Hand after the pair had dinner and drinks in Mr Hand's Laindon home.
Today, Mr Hand's heartbroken family criticised health chiefs for allowing Field out of hospital.
The victim's 55-year-old wife, Elizabeth, said: "We hope the mental health service has looked at its policies to save another family from the pain we will go through for the rest of our lives."
Basildon Crown Court heard that jobless Field, 23, tried to flee the crime scene drenched in blood - but bumped into two police officers outside the house in Kathleen Ferrier Crescent.
He was arrested, quizzed then charged with murder after one of the officers found Mr Hand's body in his lounge.
The grandad had been repeatedly stamped on by Field, fracturing every bone in his body from his waist to his head.
Today, Field is locked up in a secure unit at Runwell Hospital, Wickford, after pleading guilty to manslaughter through diminished responsibility.
Judge Frank Lockhart ordered him to be detained indefinitely.
Published Wednesday November 19, 2003
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