Brothers deny accusations
TWO brothers accused of fatally shooting a father “vehemently deny” accusations made by the victim from his hospital bed.
Stephen Bennett and Edward Bennett pleaded not guilty to murdering Mark Jones.
TWO brothers accused of fatally shooting a father in a Valleys lay-by “vehemently deny” accusations made by the victim from his hospital bed.
Stephen Bennett, 53, and Edward Bennett, 47, have pleaded not guilty to murdering husband and father Mark Jones, who worked for HMRC. They are on trial at Cardiff Crown Court.
The incident occurred in a lay-by on the A4059 in Mountain Ash on July 26 last year, where 43-year-old Mr Jones was found with gunshot wounds.
The jury was taken on visit to the site where the incident took place on Tuesday. On Monday the jury of eight men and four women were played a recording of the victim being interviewed by police a few days after the incident.
Detective Sergeant Richard Gray conducted the interview in the intensive care unit at the Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil at about 11am on July 31 in 2015.
The patient’s breath- ing could be heard on the recording, sounding heavy and laboured, with the noise of hospital machines in the background.
Jurors were handed a transcript, as it was difficult to understand what Mr Jones was saying and there were long pauses between his responses.
Asked about Edward Bennett, Mr Jones told the police officer: “He shot me.”
He said Edward Bennett was with his brother Stephen Bennett and he added: “He owed me money.”
The court heard all three men were involved in the supply of the Class A drug cocaine.
Asked when he saw Stephen Bennett, Mr Jones had replied: “When I was laying on the floor. He picked me up.”
He indicated he could not remember anything about the gun or what the two men were wearing.
Mr Justice Wyn Williams reminded the jury of the “limitations” of the evidence, emphasising that it was not given on oath and could not be cross-examined.
The judge also reminded them that Mr Jones was “very ill” when he was interviewed and was taking medication that could have affected his understanding.
Professor Charles Deakin, a consultant anaesthetist, said the victim’s injuries and drugs used in his treatment could have influenced his evidence.
He told the court the dosages “weren’t huge”, but accepted: “These drugs would cause some degree of confusion.”
The professor concluded: “There is nothing to suggest he was confused or disorientated or saying things that are clearly untrue.”
Mr Jones died on September 26, 2015, after having 15 operations on his gunshot wounds.
Stephen Bennett, from Masefield Way in Pontypridd, and Edward Bennett, from Station Terrace in Penrhiwceiber, deny murder.