DEATH OF A KILLER
Prison death of man convicted of four murders splits opinions in victims’ community
ACOMMUNITY where three generations of the same family were murdered was yesterday coming to terms with the news that the man convicted of the killing has died suddenly in prison.
David Morris was found guilty of killing Mandy Power, 34, her bedridden mother Doris Dawson, 80, and her daughters Katie, 10, and Emily, eight, at their home in Clydach, near Swansea, in June 1999.
In one of the most notorious crimes in modern Welsh history, all four had been bludgeoned to death with a pole before their house, in Kelvin Road, was set on fire.
Morris, a former builder, was jailed for a minimum of 32 years, having been convicted for a second time of their murders in 2006.
An earlier conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal when a second trial was ordered.
On Friday evening, a Prison Service spokeswoman confirmed Morris, aged 59, died at HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire, where he was serving a life sentence.
The cause of death is now said to be a matter for the coroner.
By yesterday morning, news had quickly circulated around the Swansea Valley community, with many expressing their shock at the sudden death, and others reflecting on the deep divisions that still continue in the village to this day.
Despite being convicted at two separate trials, Morris had long maintained his innocence and last year a programme by BBC Wales Investigates questioned the safety of the conviction.
It featured interviews with two potential witnesses – one who said he had never spoken to police, and another who said he contacted police to report what he had seen but nobody ever called him back.
But South Wales Police said they had spoken to the two men and sought advice from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), who said no information had been provided that undermined Morris’ conviction.
In Clydach yesterday, following confirmation of Morris’ death, resident Phillip Jones said: “My personal opinion, I feel he was in the right place.
“There have been many accusations made through the years, but fair play to the Clydach community, people in Clydach didn’t react and kept quiet about it.”
But Jordan Sullivan, 25, from Clydach said: “It (the news) was a huge shock in the village. It’s been 21 years.
“Dai Morris, I believe he is innocent. It was shocking to hear the news last night. It is disappointing news. We have got to find out who has actually done it.”
Nia Roderick, supervisor at Boo store in Clydach, said: “I think it’s going to be much like the initial response to it, some were angry and upset he was jailed and was not released and feel that justice was not served, whilst others won’t mind so much and think he was guilty. It has split the community of Clydach in half.”
The brutal killing prompted one of the biggest murder investigations ever undertaken by a Welsh police force. The investigation led to the conviction of Morris on two occasions – firstly at Swansea Crown Court in 2002, a verdict which was overturned on appeal, and then subsequently following a retrial at Newport Crown Court in 2006.
In 2018, a bid to take his case to the Court of Appeal was rejected by the Criminal Cases Review Commission.
But Morris and his family have always maintained his innocence – even though Ms Power’s former husband has said he agreed with the trial verdict.
They have campaigned for potential new evidence to be re-examined by the police and the CPS.
Some of that material featured in the recent BBC documentary.
A book was also published by solicitor John Morris – no relation – that raised serious doubts about the convictions.
In January, South Wales Police opened the way for a review of fresh claims raised by lawyers for Morris.
It reiterated its confidence in Morris’ conviction but said it would appoint an independent investigating officer and an independent forensic scientist to oversee a forensic review of the specific areas raised by Morris’ legal representatives.
But the family’s efforts hit a setback last month when, following an independent investigating officer’s consultation with the CPS over potential new evidence, it was “determined that this evidence did not undermine the conviction of Mr Morris”.
However, investigations into forensic issues challenged in the BBC documentary into the crimes have yet to be completed.