Arnold Astwood, the man accused of murdering his girlfriend Ruth Binns in September 2007, pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not guilty to murder this morning.

Director of Public Prosecutions Rory Field accepted the plea, which came on the morning that Astwood, 36, was due to go on trial for the alleged murder of 26-year-old Ms Binns.

The victim, who was also known as Ruth Dill, was found dead in her Southampton apartment by a family member.

See tomorrow’s edition of The Royal Gazette for the full story.