The jury in the case of Mark Parnham came to a wise and sensible verdict last night at Lewes Crown Court.

They found the 37-year-old teacher at Horsham not guilty of murdering his wife Jillian but guilty of manslaughter.

Evidence showed this was what the French call a crime of passion. Parnham went out of control after a row over her affair with another teacher.

It was clear he had been provoked and she had picked up a metal bar. But Parnham's appalling reaction in battering her to death could not be justified as self-defence.

Judge Richard Brown was right to reflect the terrible nature of this crime in his sentence on Parnham of six years in jail.

The only reason it was not longer was the jury's view about his intention. It was not a cold-blooded killing but one done in the heat of the moment.

Parnham probably really loved his wife and was shocked by her infidelity. Nothing can bring her back and he will have time to reflect on the enormity of what he did.