A PARANOID schizophrenic who chopped his mum's head off because he thought she was a witch has admitted manslaughter.

Daniel Coriat, aged 44, of Taymount Grange, Forest Hill, pleaded guilty to manslaughter with diminished responsibility on the opening day of his Old Bailey trial today (Jan 28).

The body of 76-year-old mother Elizabeth Coriat was found at the flat she shared with her son on March 24 last year.

She had suffered extensive mutilation and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police later found Coriat hiding inside a bin at nearby Forest Hill station and he was arrested and charged with her murder shortly afterwards.

The murder charge has now been dropped.

He is due to be sentenced tomorrow (Jan 29).