Murder trial jury to start deliberating
The trial of a man accused of murdering his partner has heard the prosecution and defence lay out very different versions of events on the fateful day.
Terrie-Ann Jones was found dead in a pool of blood at her Neath home in January this year – the 33-year-old had suffered 26 separate stab, slash, and cut wounds.
John Paul Lewis is accused of murdering the mum-of-two, a charge he denies – the 56-year-old maintains he was acting in self defence. Day seven of his trial at Swansea Crown Court saw closing speeches from the prosecution and defence barristers in the case.
Mike Jones QC, for the prosecution, described Lewis as a “controlling, abusive and possessive” partner.
The barrister said that on January 3 this year Lewis stole Miss Jones’s phone after an argument, and on it found messages about her seeing somebody else, and wanting to move on from him.
Mr Jones said the following day Lewis “stewed” over the end of the relationship, and texted Miss Jones to tell her he would be calling on her the following day and she should leave the door open for him.
Then, on January 5 – having been for a drink in the Schooners pub in Briton Ferry, and feeling “aggrieved” – the barrister said Lewis went to “confront” Miss Jones.
It was then the turn of David Elias QC to address the jury on behalf of the defence.
He said it was his client’s case that he had been acting in self-defence on the day Miss Jones died, after she had brandished a knife at him.
He said it was conceded the couple had frequently rowed, and the court had heard from Miss Jones’s daughter that her mum would stand up for herself in the arguments.
He said it was true that some unpleasant texts had been sent but that “words were said and the relationship moved on”.
He reminded the jury that in the summer of last year Miss Jones had been facing eviction until £2,000 had been paid into her account – days after Lewis had withdrawn a similar amount from his bank.
The barrister pointed to police evidence of cocaine and cocaine-taking paraphernalia in Miss Jones’s house, and of hair analysis which showed evidence of cocaine use in the months before she died – he asked the jury to consider what she was spending her £250 to £350 per week wages on.
The barrister told the members of the jury there had been a struggle between Miss Jones and the defendant in the kitchen of her Talbot Road house, but he asked them: “Can you be sure it was Mr Lewis who started that? That it was Mr Lewis who had the knife from the start? This was a very fast moving situation. He told you she got the knife from the kitchen draw and came to him. Injuries were caused. Just because injuries were caused, do you jump to a conclusion?”
Lewis, of Church Street, Briton Ferry, denies murder. The jury of seven women and five men is expected to begin its deliberations today.