A man who stabbed to death a father of two was a paranoid schizophrenic who refused to take his medication, a court heard.

Robert McKenzie, 43, of Shelley Road, Worthing, told psychiatrists he heard voices, believed doctors and police were against him and said he could memorise a newspaper in five minutes.

McKenzie, known by friends as "Mad Mike", denies murdering Chris Stones, 27, of Cowper Road, Worthing, on June 23 last year.

It is alleged he stabbed Mr Stones in the stomach after the pair argued in the street. The court heard it was not in dispute that McKenzie stabbed Mr Stones but argued it had been done in self-defence.

Dr Lisa Wotton yesterday told a jury at Lewes Crown Court McKenzie had been admitted to hospital for ten weeks in 2003 but did not believe he was mentally ill.

He was known to Worthing community mental health team and saw a community psychiatric nurse.

Dr Wotton said McKenzie refused to take medication believing it would make him worse and told doctors he suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome caused by painful amalgam fillings.

Doctors' reports said McKenzie had an inflated sense of himself, was suspicious and anxious, found it difficult to be in public and did not like to be intimidated. He also had obsessive tendencies including excessive hand washing and a compulsion to touch door frames before entering a room.

The trial continues.