Man guilty of cousin's axe murder

A man has been convicted of murdering his cousin with an axe in what police called an "extremely distressing case".

Donald Excell killed 58-year-old Rita Lambourne at her home in Bexhill, East Sussex, on 12 February.

Excell, 49, from Seabourne Road, Bexhill, had denied murder and possession of a bladed article, but was convicted unanimously at Hove Crown Court after the jury had been deliberating for just four hours.

He is due to be sentenced on 12 March 2026, with the judge ordering a psychiatric report.