'A serial killer in the making'

Daniel Gonzalez wanted to kill "at least ten people"

in a campaign of murder stretching from Sussex to London, the Old Bailey was told yesterday.

His first kill was grandmother Marie Harding, 73, who worked for Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club for many years.

She had been walking to her home in Highdown, Southwick, when she was attacked in a secluded lane and had her throat slashed. Gonzalez, 25, who lived with his mother in Woking, Surrey, denies four charges of murdering two women and two men over a three-day period.

He accepts he was the killer on each occasion but claims he was told to kill his victims by "voices", the jurors heard.

He denies murder and wants verdicts of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

It is alleged that Gonzalez murdered Jean and Derek Robinson and Kevin Molloy on September 17, 2004, and Mrs Harding two days earlier on September 15.

Richard Horwell, prosecuting, said: "In September 2004, the defendant pursued a campaign of murder from the South Coast to London.

"When later interviewed, he said that he had wanted to murder at least ten victims and thereby become a renowned serial killer.

"He was prevented from achieving his ambition because on the third day he was arrested in central London.

"By then, he had attacked six people in five separate incidents - four of his six victims had died."

The court heard Gonzalez, a heavy drinker and drug abuser, had become bored and frustrated with life.

Mr Howell said: "Mrs Harding was attacked, probably from behind. Her body was discovered some minutes later.

"She had two deep penetrating wounds, one to her neck and the other to her back, either of which would have killed her."

When interviewed later, Gonzalez said he had bought the knife he used to kill the pensioner in Worthing. It was never found.

The jury was discharged after one of them was recognised by a member of one of the victim's families.

The trial continues today.