Jury told of pair’s ‘simmering tension’ before blow to face

AMAN died after being struck to the face by his partner’s son after “simmering tension” between the pair, a court has heard.

Kurt Velardo appeared at Swansea Crown Court yesterday for the beginning of a manslaughter trial, following the death of 49-year-old Terence Richard Bell on November 14, 2017.

The court heard Mr Bell, referred to during the hearing as Terry, had been in a relationship with Janet Velardo, the defendant’s mother.

Mr Bell had been a friend of Velardo’s late father, and Velardo, 30, of Clayton Drive in Pontarddulais, Swansea, felt the relationship had begun too soon after his father’s death.

Prosecutor John Hipkin explained how their relationship had “not sat easily” with Velardo.

Mr Hipkin said: “The defendant never accepted the relationship and that would lead to him ignoring Terry Bell if he were to visit the house at Moriah Road in Treboeth.

“This simmering resentment formed the background and basis for events on November 11, 2017.”

On November 11, outside the Treboeth property, there had been a verbal exchange between the pair, and Velardo had gripped him by the scruff of the jumper and warned him to “pipe down”, the court heard.

At this point Velardo’s sister, Sian, came outside and hugged her brother, but an exchange continued.

But Velardo swiped his right hand in a backhanded motion, connecting with Mr Bell, causing him to fall and strike his head on the ground or a plant pot, before walking away, the court heard.

He could hear his sister saying “Terry, wake up, wake up”, at which point he returned back and helped put him in the recovery position.

Velardo’s sister also tried to give Mr Bell the kiss of life but she was unable to as his jaw had locked.

The incident caused skull fractures and led to severe brain injury.

He died in hospital three days later on November 14 as a result of his injuries.

After his arrest Velardo told one of the officers: “Terry was steaming, he was all over the place, I could have blown him over.”

The court heard there was a reading of 149 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood in Mr Bell’s system, just under twice the legal driving limit.

Velardo reopened a wound on his hand from playing rugby earlier that day as a result of the blow.

Mr Hipkin said: “Kurt Velardo was 29 at the time of the incident. When he was interviewed by police he described Mr Bell’s build as ‘shapeless’, and described himself as 6ft 2in, 17st 3lb, strong and played rugby for Penlan RFC as a second row forward, training every day.

“Mr Bell was 49, just over 5ft 7in and weighed nearly 12 stone. He worked as a labourer plasterer with John Weaver Construction.”

The court heard pathologist Dr James described the cause of death as a blunt head injury.

The trial continues.