On this significant anniversary, we remember that horrific event by hearing from Michael Murphy who followed the trial of this racist homophobe at the UK's principal criminal court.

Copeland had tried to fool doctors into sending him backing to prison - rather than remaining in Broadmoor - by pretending he was not ill. Dr Gilluley said Copeland had insisted he considered himself a heterosexual.

But when he was 13 his parents became "funny" towards him, inferring he was a homosexual. He said he was "extremely angry" with his parents for making him see a doctor because they were worried about his slow growth. The doctor had examined his genitals.

Dr Gilluley thought Copeland's personality began to change when he was 19 and isolated himself from his family and friends.

He said: "He told us he began to realise he had a mission. He said that during this time all he wanted to do was to kill people.

"He said he considered using a gun but said he could not do this because he would be arrested and it would prevent him from carrying out his destiny to plant a bomb."

Dr Dean said he had found no suggestion whatsoever of any delusions or hallucinations or thought disorder when he examined Copeland. "He put it down to stress," Dr Dean told the court, "and just having a shit life."

He also blamed his parents for taunting him about his suspected homosexuality. Copeland told doctors that his parents would often sing the theme tune to 'The Flintstones', emphasising the line, 'We'll have a gay old time.'

As the trial entered its third week, it was revealed how the nail-bomber fell in love with a woman who wrote to him in prison after his arrest. But "Patricia Scanlon" was really a male journalist who fooled Copeland into corresponding with him about his trial.

Defence psychiatrist, Dr Ian Cummings, said that when Copeland carried out his bombing campaign, he falsely believed he would create a race war and would be rewarded.

"He believed God had chosen him and an Armageddon might result," stated Dr Cummings. He informed the court that Copeland had started taking medication early this year "and there had been a small improvement."

Before concluding, Mr Wolkind lambasted the psychiatric evidence presented by the prosecution, in particular singling out Dr Joseph, whose testimony he contended was "neither reliable or fair."

But prosecution psychiatrist Dr Philip Joseph had earlier told the court he believed Copeland was suffering from a personality disorder, which did not impair his responsibility.

In his summing up, the Recorder of London, Judge Michael Hyam, told the jury they had one issue to decide - "whether the defendant was suffering from diminished responsibility at the time of his attacks."

The jury retired to deliberate on the murder charges at 3.20pm. An hour and ten minutes later the jury had still not come to a decision, and they were sent under escort to a hotel where they were to spend the night.

A little over twenty-four hours later, at 3.23pm on Friday, 30th June, proceedings reconvened in Court Number One when the jury had indicated they had concluded their deliberations.

As the clerk read aloud the three charges of murder against Copeland to the jury the foreman replied "Guilty" to all three counts on the indictment.

As the verdicts sunk in, huge cheers rang out from victims seated at the back of the court, followed by shouts of "Murdering bastard!" and "Nazi scum" reining down on Copeland from the public gallery above.

Addressing Copeland, who stood in the dock maintaining a scowl of contempt, Judge Michael Hyam told him: "Anyone who has heard the facts of this case will be appalled and horrified" at the atrocities he had committed.

"Nothing can excuse or justify the evil and the abhorrent views you express."

Sentencing Copeland to a total of six life sentences, Judge Hyam told him: "The public must be protected from you and it must be assured that you are not released for a very long time."

Copeland was led down to the cells from where he later returned to Broadmoor's top security hospital to continue his treatment.

"The trial is over but those who were caught up in this terrible tragedy will continue to live with the memory of what happened on April 30th. My thoughts, as ever, are with the families of those who lost their lives in this terrible tragedy and with all those who have suffered as a result of this horrific bombing.

"I would like to add my sincere thanks to everyone who has offered their support and encouragement to Mark and his staff over the last fourteen months. It has been overwhelming at times, but it has meant a great deal to all of them."

The father of nail-bomber David Copeland condemned the murder of the three people who died and the other 129 who were injured in the three blasts.

From behind the closed doors of his home in the leafy village of Yately, Hants, Stephen Copeland, 50, told Michael Murphy he would wash his hands of his son if he was found guilty of the three murders. The tearful dad-of-three, a heating engineer, refused to come to the door of the £200,000 family home, saying he had been told he "could be in danger".

Speaking through an intercom system, he said: "Myself and my family totally condemn the cowardly and barbaric bombings carried out in London. Our heartfelt thoughts and sympathies go out to the families of the bereaved and those injured, who are grieving at this time.

"As you can imagine, we are all completely devastated by these events. We cannot begin to imagine how terrible the families of the killed and injured must be feeling today.

"We are all mystified to learn that David could be responsible for all these bloody bombings. We wish to be left in peace at this time. I have nothing else to say at the moment."

There is still almost 25 years of his original 50 year sentence remaining. Together with his additional sentence he won't be considered for release until he is at least 75 years old.

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