A MAN who was jailed for life in 2004 for the murder of a pensioner at flats in a Kent town has finally admitted he was the killer.

Sherzad Muhamed was sentenced to 12 years after he was convicted of murdering 66-year-old Richard Cromarty in July 2003.

In December last year, Muhamed won an appeal against the conviction and a new trial was ordered.

The 32-year-old, of no fixed address, again denied murder when he appeared at Maidstone Crown Court in February and the trial was set for next January.

But in another twist, the Iraqi Kurd this week admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

In a seemingly motiveless attack, Mr Cromarty suffered more than 20 stab wounds at his flat in Kingsley Road, Maidstone. He collapsed after staggering outside.

Sentence was adjourned until June 22.