'Layabout' son killed parents in a rage after hangover row

A 'layabout' son killed his parents in a row about him being hungover, the Old Bailey heard today.

Daniel Dighton stabbed his father four times and mother more than 20 times. He was a fantasist who did not have a job and was "a loser" in his parents' eyes, prosecutor Crispin Aylett QC told the jury.

His parents, Barry, 61, and mother Liz, 60, returned to their South Croydon home after a shopping trip "to find their layabout of a son still in bed and hungover", Mr Aylett said. "A routine argument quickly got out of hand. The defendant armed himself with two knives, stabbing both of his parents to death in an attack of terrible ferocity." After neighbours heard screams, police found Dighton, 35, hiding in the loft. He denies murder on September 30 last year. The prosecution rejects a defence that the killings were manslaughter caused by diminished responsibility.

Mr Aylett said Daniel spent all day lounging in the house and his evening drinking in the Folly public house, where he told lies to make himself popular. His parents tried to find him a flat and a job but worried he "had no drive". His grandmother Olive said they waited on him "hand and foot".

Mr and Mrs Dighton had worked at Elmhurst boys' prep school. He had retired as headmaster and she as head of reception year. The trial continues.