Plaid ms reprimanded over tweet about trial

PLAID MS Helen Mary Jones has been reprimanded by her colleagues, writes Ruth Mosalski.

Helen Mary Jones, who represents Mid and West Wales, re-tweeted a post in relation to an ongoing murder trial, and was found in contempt of court for doing so and was ordered to appear in front of the crown court judge in Swansea.

Ms Jones shared a Twitter post written by domestic abuse campaigner Rachel Williams which expressed “hope” that a jury would find a man guilty of murdering his wife. The tweet, posted on a Saturday and shared by Ms Jones the same day, related to the trial of Anthony Williams, 70, who killed his wife Ruth, 67, five days into lockdown, on March 28 last year.

He was sentenced to five years in jail for manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility after being cleared of murder.

Following his sentencing, a judge accused both Ms Jones and Ms Williams, of abusing their “social media, political influences and high profiles” and of risking the collapse of the trial.

Judge Thomas said that having heard from both women, there was no need to invoke a summary procedure for contempt of court, which could lead to further action being taken, and that only “admonishment is appropriate”.

When the Senedd’s acting standards commissioner investigated, he called it a “flagrant contempt of court” and also resulted in breaches of the code of conduct which MSs have to follow.

She is standing for election in Llanelli in the upcoming election and is also on the regional list in Mid and West Wales.

Helen Mary Jones MS did not give oral evidence to the Standards Committee but had referred herself to the committee and fully apologised.

In her response to the report, Ms Jones said: “I fully accept the findings of the commissioner and the committee. My conduct fell far short of the standards I expect of myself, as well as those expected of all in public life. I wish to apologise to the Senedd.”