Man cleared of murder over stepfather killing

University lecturer Barry Hounsome was found dead at his home in Southcroft Road, Gosport

A man has been acquitted over allegations he murdered his stepfather and lied about voices in his head telling him to do it.

Vladimir Ivashikin killed university lecturer Dr Barry Hounsome with electric drills, knives and a hammer in October 2018, when he was 16 years old.

The court heard that the army cadet, now 22, told police afterwards he was hearing voices ordering him to kill the 54-year-old at their home in Gosport, Hampshire.

Ivashikin, previously of Southcroft Road, Gosport, denied murder but admitted manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.

Southampton Crown Court heard how three psychiatrists diagnosed him as having a "psychotic illness" at the time of the killing.

He was then sentenced to a hospital order, but in 2022 was re-investigated and charged with murder after he told a nurse at the psychiatric unit where he was a patient that he had fabricated his psychotic symptoms, the court heard.

During the trial, defence witness Dr Bradley Hillier, who assessed Ivashikin last year, told jurors that he appeared "unwell" with "genuine symptoms" of psychosis.

On Wednesday, jurors found Ivashikin not guilty of murder.

He will be sentenced on Friday.