Killer Robert Cairns has been found guilty for the second time of the brutal murder of leukaemia sufferer Justin Hayward.

Cairns, 27, was today starting a life sentence for the murder of 19-year-old Justin, who was stabbed more than 40 times during a knife attack at Duke's Mound in Brighton in October 1996.

Cairns stood motionless as a jury at Lewes Crown Court returned a majority ten-two guilty verdict on the charge of murder.

He had been convicted of the same charge in March 1998 but was granted a retrial in February after the Appeal Court overturned his conviction so new forensic evidence could be presented.

Relatives and friends of Mr Hayward were visibly relieved as yesterday's verdict was announced. Some wept openly in the public gallery.

Parents Keith and Collette Hayward said in a statement: "We can only hope this is now an end to our suffering as we wish to remember Justin as he was before he was so cruelly taken from us."

At the original trial in 1998, Cairns' co-defendant Paul Maynard was jailed for three-and-a-half years after being found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

During the original trial he and Cairns blamed each other for Justin's murder.

The jury in the retrial heard how the tragedy unfolded on the night of October 19, 1996.

Cairns, then 23, Maynard, 21, and Justin were all living at the Royal Promenade Hotel in Percival Terrace, Brighton.

The jury heard Cairns and Maynard had told another resident they were angry because Justin would not share his alcohol. James Townend, prosecuting, said: "Cairns said to Maynard, 'I think we should go to his room and give him a slap and rob his beer,' or words to that effect."

Justin's body was later found by passer-by Neil Backhouse. He had been stabbed in the neck, throat and eyes.

A Swiss-Army type knife, which had been washed, was later found in Maynard's room.