A MAN who stabbed a workman to death after hearing voices in his head, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Paul Cusack, 32, of Mauldeth Road West, Withington, lived in a flat next door to one in which his victim, Sidney Waller, was installing a kitchen.

Manchester Crown Court heard that father-of-two Mr Waller, 67, had been working part-time for a property landlord in July, when he was fitting the kitchen at the address.

He asked the landlord if anyone was in the building, and was told that Cusack was at home. Mr Waller said he had not seen him, and began working.

Voices

At around 10.30am on Monday July 28 police took a call from Cusack who said he had just killed someone. Officers immediately went to the address and found him behind the front door, clutching a bloodstained knife. His hands and face were also covered in blood.

 Mr Waller was taken by ambulance to Manchester Royal Infirmary but died from his injuries.

During interviews with police, Cusack said that he had heard voices in his head willing him to confront Mr Waller.

Senior investigating officer Andrew Tattersall said: "This was a terrible, tragic set of circumstances in which a devoted family man, married for 44 years with two adult children, lost his life.

"His family will always be heartbroken by what happened. The only consolation is that no more entirely innocent people will be under threat from Cusack." Cusack will be sentenced in March.