Accused father 'exploded in rage'

All four died of multiple stab and slash wounds

A father accused of murdering four members of his family exploded with rage when his ex-partner told him she had cheated on him, a court heard.

Neil Crampton is accused of killing Funke Sobo, 36, his daughter Abigail, 12, his five-year-old son Steven, and his ex-partner's brother Yemi Sobo, 44.

A friend of Ms Sobo's told Newcastle Crown Court that she had been lying about seeing another man.

Mr Crampton, 36, of Huntley Crescent, Gateshead, denies murder.

The four were found with multiple stab and slash wounds at their home in Kenton, Newcastle, on 14 November 2006.

Joanne Nolan, who had worked with Ms Sobo at Asda in Gosforth, told the court: "He always thought she was seeing somebody.

Crampton denies four counts of murder

"It was at the spur of the moment, they were arguing, she just said it. She took it back straight away.

"He went absolutely berserk, just angry, a rage. He just exploded."

The former taxi driver has admitted the killings but is fighting the four murder charges on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Brian Waters, a life-long friend of Crampton, told the jury how he watched the defendant deteriorate mentally in the months before the killings.

Describing one time he saw Crampton, Mr Waters said: "He looked like a lunatic. He had shaved his head and had no teeth. At times he didn't seem as if he was on this planet."

Mr Waters said Crampton was struggling to come to terms with the end of his relationship with Funke.

The trial continues.