'Explosive violence' of murderer

Morris guilty of murders Clydach killer's violent past

The barrister who prosecuted Clydach killer David Morris says he is "probably one of the most dangerous people in the United Kingdom".

Morris was jailed for life at Newport Crown Court on Thursday for bludgeoning three generations of the same family to death in June 1999.

Patrick Harrington QC prosecuted Morris in both the 2002 murder trial in which he was found guilty and in the retrial.

He said he could react "to the smallest thing with explosive violence".

Morris 44, from Craig-cefn-parc in the Swansea Valley, is beginning a life sentence for the murders of Mandy Power, 34, her bedridden mother Doris Dawson, 80, and Ms Power's daughters Katie, 10, and Emily, eight.

If this were written as a book or fiction, people would say it's too far fetched Patrick Harrington QC

Mr Harrington began working on the case around five years ago through the original 2002 trial, Morris' successful 2005 appeal and this year's retrial.

Morris denied the charges throughout, but Mr Harrington said he had no doubts about the killer's violent nature.

He said: "He is capable of responding to the smallest thing with explosive violence, and uncontrolled violence which has, in this case, had devastating consequences for very many people.

"We think he is an appalling individual."

Morris's retrial began in May after his previous convictions were quashed by the appeal court.

Patrick Harrington QC successfully prosecuted Morris

Morris's defence team raised suspicion over the involvement of the married woman, Alison Lewis, with whom Ms Power had been having a secret affair.

A South Wales Police officer, Alison Lewis was married to another officer Stephen Lewis.

Along with Mr Lewis's brother - also a policeman - they were arrested in connection with the murders but never charged.

Mr Harrington said: "I'm the first to recognise that if this were written as a book or fiction, people would say it's too far-fetched.

"The combination of circumstances is just utterly extraordinary.

"And there is a danger for the uninformed, or those that are not fully informed simply to say: 'It all sounds very odd to me, it's all a bit suspicious'."

Mr Harrington said Ms Power's family had shown "remarkable fortitude" during an extremely emotionally trying time.

He said he was "entirely confident" Morris was the killer, describing him as "probably one of the most dangerous people in the United Kingdom".

The Clydach QC is broadcast on Radio Wales at 1800 BST on Friday