Clydach trial - warning 'a joke'

Stephen Lewis was cross-examined at Newport Crown Court

A policeman whose wife had a lesbian affair with Clydach murder victim Mandy Power has admitted warning Ms Power to stay away from his wife.

At the trial of David Morris for four murders, Stephen Lewis admitted he told Ms Power to "stay away from my wife".

Insp Lewis told Newport Crown Court the comment was intended as a joke.

Mr Morris, 44, of Craig-cefn-parc, near Swansea, denies murdering Ms Power, her daughters Katie, 10, Emily, 8 and their grandmother Doris Dawson in June 1999.

My marriage was destroyed. My reputation gone with it. Stephen Lewis

The prosecution told the jury how the family were victims of the most appalling and grotesque violence - bludgeoned to death in the early hours of the morning at their home in Kelvin Road, Clydach.

The court had already heard how Ms Power, a divorcee, had been having an affair with ex-police officer Alison Lewis, who was married to acting Inspector Stephen Lewis.

Women's rugby

Under cross-examination by Mr Morris' defence barrister Gareth Rees, Insp Lewis talked about his relationship with his wife.

When asked if his sex life was non-existent in 1999, Insp Lewis replied: "Yes, that's fair to say. I don't suppose I realised at the time how the relationship had deteriorated since the birth of the kids."

Insp Lewis went on to tell the jury how his ex-wife's interest in women's rugby had led to her spending less time with the couple's two children and how Insp Lewis had become concerned about her mixing with lesbian players within the team.

In a police statement, Insp Lewis said: "I remember saying to Alison, 'I'm frightened for our relationship'."

The defence asked him: "You were concerned?"

"Yes I was concerned about that," he replied.

"But after the answer from Alison I was quite happy. She said 'how dare you think that of me? You obviously don't know me.'"

Mr Rees then asked Insp Lewis: "Do you remember telling Alison - because I suggest you did know she was a lesbian and was having an affair with Mandy Power - that she had to choose between her and you?"

Insp Lewis replied: "No".

Insp Lewis was then asked about a comment he had made to Mandy Power on her doorstep in Clydach in which he had warned her "to stay away from my wife".

'Beautiful smile'

Mr Rees said: "You said that was a joke because your wife Alison had come home with a hangover".

"But you weren't forthcoming to the police with that explanation?"

Insp Lewis said: "I had forgotten about it - this happened months before the murders."

Asked what he thought of Mandy Power, he said he thought she was "common". "She sometimes dressed a little bit tartish but she had an absolutely beautiful smile and was a good mother."

Home bugged

The court was also told that before Insp Lewis himself became a suspect in the murder investigation, he was given information about the inquiry.

He said: "The incident room was not secure".

Insp Lewis went on to categorically deny that he was near Ms Power's home on the night of the murders.

The court heard following his arrest, Stephen Lewis's home was bugged for 1,788 hours.

He told the jury he felt numb when interviewed by police.

"I found out a close family friend had died, then it was murder, then my wife is having a lesbian affair. My wife tries to jump out of the window, I had to take her to hospital. My marriage was destroyed. My reputation gone with it," he told the jury.

The court also heard there was no forensic evidence at Ms Power's house linked to Insp Lewis.

The trial continues.