Gold-digging killer Dominic Dalton's bid to claim his victim's fortune has been blocked.

The 42-year-old, who strangled his elderly gay partner with a dressing gown cord, was told by a judge at the Royal Courts of Justice he must forfeit his £250,000 inheritance.

Bernard 'Bunny' Murphy's family last night said justice had been done in their battle to prevent Dalton from seizing his former Kemp Town home.

One-time society hairdresser Mr Murphy, whose celebrity clients included Maureen O'Hara, Paulette Goddard and Una Stubbs, was killed by Dalton at the home they shared in Crown Street.

In July 2001, a judge at Lewes Crown Court directed a jury to find Dalton not guilty of murder but he was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to six years' imprisonment.

Mr Murphy's nephew, Alan Milner, 47, of Kemp Town, said: "We are delighted to have won but this is a hollow victory because nothing is going to get our uncle back.

"I knew from the first time I met Dalton he was just after my uncle's money. That wouldn't have mattered if he had been nice to him, but he treated him terribly."

The court was told how Dalton once dangled the senile pensioner over a banister by his ankles.

The judge said Dalton had been given nothing but kindness and had taken everything in return, spending about £150,000 of the pensioner's cash to fuel a luxury lifestyle.

Mr Milner said: "We will now sell the house and the money will be used to pay our legal costs of about £80,000. Then we will sit down and discuss what happens to the rest."

There are 18 family members with an interest in the will.

Mr Milner said: "This case was never about the money. It was about getting justice for my uncle. That has been served today."

Dalton obtained legal aid to bring his case and was taken from his cell in Parc Prison, South Wales, to the Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand for the week-long hearing. The two-bedroom house in Crown Street and £35,000 left in a bank account were at the centre of the legal wrangle.

Mr Murphy, who was suffering from Alzheimer's Disease, named his killer as main beneficiary in his will but the law states killers can not profit from their crime triggering Dalton's case for non-forfeiture.

Mr Justice Patten, in Court number 36, originally intended to reserve his judgement for a later date but decided to make his ruling public on Friday afternoon.

At the time of the original sentencing, the family criticised the trial judge for being too lenient.

The court was told how Dalton snapped and strangled his partner after he became unable to cope with his worsening condition.

Dalton argued Mr Murphy's family had abandoned him and suggested it had been a mercy killing.

The judge said he would give his formal reasons for his decision at a later date.