A FATHER has admitted knifing his daughter to death in Bournemouth.

Faleh Ghazi Albasman today pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, more than six months after daughter Mashael was found stabbed to death in a flat in St Michael’s Road.

The Kuwaiti student suffered multiple stab wounds on March 30 this year.

A plea and case management hearing for the defendant has twice been adjourned, with doctors at the secure hospital in which he is currently incarcerated deciding he was not well enough to attend.

However, on the last occasion in early August, Judge Keith Cutler sitting at Winchester Crown Court said the defendant must attend. This afternoon, Albasman was produced in the dock to deny a single count of murder. However, he admitted manslaughter, a plea which was accepted by the prosecution.

Flanked by security guards, the 58-year-old - who has a beard and thick grey hair - spoke softly and clasped his hands together. After confirming his plea, he smiled at Judge Cutler and said: "Thank you very much."

Albasman was charged in April this year, days after his daughter’s body was discovered in a first-floor flat. She had come to the UK to study English in November last year.

Judge Cutler said: "You have accepted through your plea that you unlawfully killed your daughter. "You have put through your lawyers a plea of reduction of responsibility which in law is called diminished responsibility.

The prosecution have indicated that they do not seek a trial on the offence of murder." Albasman will be sentenced at the court next week.

Mashael’s family in Kuwait are being supported by a Dorset Police family liaison officer working together with the Kuwaiti embassy and international liason officers from the National Crime Agency.