Murder trial sees jury visit alleged scene of shooting
THE jury in the Andrew Jones murder trial yesterday went to visit a number of sites connected with the case.
They included Cyncoed Farm in Cwmfrwdd, near Carmarthen, where Andrew Jones is alleged to have lured his wife’s lover Michael O’Leary before his death.
The farm was also the site where a number of bullet casings were discovered, and where prosecutors allege Mr Jones used a forklift truck to move Mr O’Leary’s body.
Jurors were also taken Mr Jones’ home address in Bronwydd Road in Carmarthen.
Forensic officers believe the casings found at the farm were fired by a Colt .22 rifle, which was discovered at Bronwydd Road.
Mr O’Leary’s DNA was also found on various pieces of bloodstained clothing at the address.
Fisherman’s car park, near the River Towy and just off Capel Dewi Road, was also visited.
Andrew Jones, 53, is accused of enticing Michael O’Leary, 55, who was having an affair with his wife Rhianon, 51, to farmland and allegedly shooting him with a rifle.
Jones is accused of disposing of Mr O’Leary’s body by burning it in an oil drum following the alleged confrontation at Cyncoed Farm.
Jones, a builder by trade, denies murder.
Dyfed-Powys Police launched a missing person inquiry after the fatherof-three failed to return to his home in
Nantgaredig on the evening of January 27.
In the course of their inquiries, detectives spoke to both the defendant and his wife about Mr O’Leary because they had learned of an affair.
Initially, Jones did not tell detectives about the extramarital relationship and only later admitted that he had known of it for months, Swansea Crown Court heard.
The jury was told earlier this week that eight weapons, which were legally held by Jones, were seized by police from a locked gun cabinet at his home three days after the alleged murder.
The weapons were:
■ 303 Lee-Enfield rifle;
■ .22 Colt rifle;
■ .22 Luger rifle with suppressor;
■ .308 Armalite rifle with suppressor;
■ .233 Southern Gun rifle;
■ 12-bore Mossberg shotgun;
■ 12-bore Mossberg pump-action shotgun;
■ 12-bore Beretta over and under shotgun.
The court heard some of the weapons, which all had firearms certificates, were decommissioned.
Jurors have been told that Mr O’Leary’s body has never been found, although a charred piece of his intestine was recovered from an oil drum in a yard adjacent to Jones’s home.
The trial resumes today.