Man denies double killing

Emergency services were called to the blaze

A man burned his brother to death as he was trying to cover up another murder, Swansea Crown Court has heard.

Brian Whitelock, 33, allegedly killed a man in the home of his brother Glen in the Blaenymaes area of the city.

Glen Whitelock died in the house

The court was told to disguise that killing he then set fire to the house but Glen Whitelock had fallen asleep inside.

Mr Whitelock has denied two charges of murder.

The court heard that all three were heavy drinkers and had met at Glen Whitelock's home in Portmead Avenue.

But the prosecution claim that Mr Whitelock had battered 27-year-old Nicholas Morgan to death with a hammer after a row last October.

He is then accused of going to a garage and buying petrol.

Brother asleep

The jury heard that by the time he returned to the terraced house his brother was asleep.

Christopher Llewellyn-Jones, prosecuting, said Brian Whitelock poured petrol over the body of Mr Morgan, set it on fire and escaped over the garden fence.

The court heard that Mr Morgan died from head injuries whilst Glen Whitelock perished in the blaze.

The prosecution claims that during the evening Mr Whitelock took almost £1,000 belonging to his brother, changed his clothes and went to Swansea railway station.

Pub arrest

The court was told that Mr Whitelock then spent several hours in a Swansea pub where he made up a story about gypsies setting fire to the house.

He was arrested later the same day whilst he was in the pub.

The prosecution said that although Mr Whitelock had changed some of his clothes - forensic scientists were able to find traces of Mr Morgan's blood on them.

The jury was told that during a police interview Mr Whitelock claimed to have left the house before any trouble to go poaching.

But the court heard how Mr Whitelock had made the mistake of telling people his brother had died in a fire before the bodies had been identified.

The case continues.