The heartbroken brother of a "simple and vulnerable" murder victim took a fatal overdose after struggling to cope with his sibling's death.
Peter Seeclear was violently beaten by supposed his friend and carer Nathan Muat during a fishing trip under canvas at Stadt Moers Park in Whiston in October.
The 45-year-old was left with more than 20 fractured ribs in an attack which only emerged weeks later due to the stunning findings of a post mortem examination.
On Friday, Muat, who constantly bullied his Toxteth pal, and "treated him like a servant, if not a dog," was jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 19 years behind bars.
Now it has tragically emerged that Peter's grieving brother James tried to get justice for Peter, but was left broken as the investigation went on.
Three weeks after Peter's death, Muat was charged with murder.
Today, Mr Seeclear's family explained how James, 47, tragically died in January after being unable to deal with the stress surrounding Peter's killing.
Speaking to the ECHO after the verdict at Liverpool Crown Court, sister Jacqui, 58, said: "James did his best to get justice.
"He fought so much to make Muat accountable.
"It broke his[James'] heart.
"He couldn't bring himself to go to the funeral.
"It was all too much."
James died after taking an overdose of cocaine and prescription drugs - although his family believe he didn't intend to take his own life.
His devastated wife - Sarah Hamilton - said her husband couldn't handle Peter's passing.
She said: "The loss of James’ life devastated me and my three children.
"Life will never be the same for any of us...the direct effect on James’ mental health, he took it on himself to get justice for his brother Peter.
"He too lost his life, 13 weeks to the day of Peter’s murder."
In November 2017, Peter was involved in a serious car smash when the vehicle he was in, driven by Muat, flipped onto its roof.
The 45-year-old "controlling killer" was supposedly bringing Peter, who was also known by his Muslim name of Sulliman, to see his elderly mother in London.
But the crash left him in a hospital in Manchester having suffered a brain injury that sparked connected mental health problems.
Muat, Mr Seeclear's relatives believe, used the accident to start controlling his friend and to establish a subservient relationship.
He said his own Muslim name of Abdul Haaq translated in Arabic as “servant of truth”, and was one of the 99 names of Allah.
Jacqui added: "He[Muat on the phone] was very aggressive with me and controlling.
"He was just nasty.
"He suddenly switched their[Peter and Muat] relationship.
"It was a warning that things weren't right."
Tanisha Evans, Peter's 22-year-old daughter, said: "I have been dealing with self-blame due to the fact my dad and I were estranged, this adds to the pain of my loss as Muat has taken away any chances I had of rebuilding my relationship with my dad in the future.
"Although we did not have much contact, my dad had always been around and whether it was months or years we would always reconcile."
"...after my dad’s car accident in 2017 I was planning to visit him at hospital in Manchester.
"However, he was discharged very quickly but I called him to see how he was and the man he was with, whom I now know to be Nathan Muat, practically took over the conversation and my dad did not ask to meet up with me as he usually would.
"I did think this was strange but I never could have imagined that it was because he was under the spell of his so called "friend."
"The last thing I said to my dad was that I love him, and I do.
"I love him and I would give anything to see him one last time.
"I cannot understand why Muat did what he did to my dad, my dad was a peaceful and loving man who was not violent regardless of his previous convictions.
"My dad would have done anything for his Muslim community but Muat used his religion to manipulate him, and it is heartbreaking to know that his devotion to Islam has led to his tragic death."
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