AN ENGINEER accused of the murder of his wife and a pensioner said it was family anxiety, not drugs, that caused a psychotic episode.

Daniel Appleton was working as a partner in a specialist garage when he bludgeoned wife Amy and neighbour Sandy Seagrave to death in Crawley Down.

While the 37-year-old has accepted causing their deaths, he denies murder and said his mental health had collapsed.

In his trial at Hove Crown Court Appleton said he was “devastated” by what happened.

The Argus:

Witnesses saw him dragging Amy onto the driveway and then snatching Mrs Seagrave’s walking stick and bludgeoning them both to death with it.

Prosecutors say Appleton had taken a powerful synthetic drug which caused him to hallucinate, but he says he was not on drugs.

In the witness box, the former businessman who owned two homes and four Audis was quizzed about the incident in Hazel Way before Christmas last year.

Appleton said: “I’m devastated. Absolutely devastated by what has happened.

“I just want Amy’s family to know that I’m devastated by what has happened and that I didn’t mean to hurt anyone.

“Amy was very special to us all. She was loving and caring and she was just always so happy. Everyone loved Amy.”

The Argus:

He also said he was devastated for Mrs Seagrave’s family and could not imagine their trauma. “I’m so very sorry,” he said. “I know sorry’s not good enough but I haven’t got words for any of this. It’s so very tragic.”

On a night out with friends before the killing he said he had seen a mural of Santa which had reminded him of his dead uncle.

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Appleton told jurors he remembered Amy making a hysterical phone call to his parents after he lay silent and motionless after returning home.

Asked if he had taken anything the night before the killings, Appleton said: “I hadn’t.I have not taken any drugs and I did not take any drugs.”

He said he remembered having a conversation with Amy about having children, and then her walking downstairs and out of the front door.

The Argus:

Appleton said he did not remember snatching the walking stick from Mrs Seagrave and clubbing her to death with it before using the same metal crutch to kill his wife.

But Nicholas Corsellis QC, prosecuting, said records showed Appleton had searched for information about magic mushrooms and had traces of drugs in his system.

The trial continues.