Defendant could use violence, court told

A WOMAN accused of murdering a pensioner alongside her partner told a court her partner could resort to violence.

John Williams, 67, known as Jack, was found dead at his Swansea home on March 31. He was tied up and bloodied and had brain and head injuries.

Jonathan Donne, 42, his partner Gemma Owen, 31, and Simon Cairns, 46, are on trial at Swansea Crown Court accused of Mr Williams’s murder.

The trio, all of Gordon Thomas Close, Brynmelyn, deny murder, and an alternative charge of manslaughter, as well as robbery. Yesterday Owen gave evidence. A list of her previous convictions, including burglary, theft and possession of heroin, was read out in court.

The court was told the defendant has not been convicted of an offence since 2009.

The court heard Owen had known Donne for three to four weeks before March 29, when she had gone to buy heroin from him.

Last week, the jury in this trial was told Donne was convicted of manslaughter following an incident in May 2007. The jury was told an argument between Donne and his partner saw the woman grabbing a knife. Donne then “disarmed her with the knife then stabbed her, which led to her death”.

Owen told the court: “He said it was self-defence, I believed him.”

Owen was asked about her movements on March 29, when the alleged offences are said to have taken place.

She was shown CCTV footage of a car, with Donne getting out. Owen was in the passenger seat, and the car was in Gordon Thomas Close in Brynmelyn. The next clip showed the car on Pentrechwyth Road, outside the home of John Williams.

Owen told the court Donne said they were going to “buy some weed”. She said she entered the property and saw John Williams on the floor.

She added: “I seen his face had blood on it. I just thought someone has gone in, they have had a fight and he’s been knocked out.”

Owen said she went into a bedroom where Donne was. She said: “I wanted to go. There was a guy on the floor. I can’t remember everything.”

Owen said she left by the front door. She was asked if she had any further discussion about what happened, and replied: “No. I did not want to know. I did not want him [Donne] to go mad.”

Owen was eventually arrested on April 3.

Asked if she had any intention to commit robbery that night, she said: “No.” Asked if she had any intention of harming John Williams, she said: “No.”

The trial continues.