Murder cell confessions 'made up'

Royston Moore will not go into the witness box, the court has heard

Fellow inmates made up claims that a man accused of murdering a woman confessed to them, a court was told.

Royston Moore, 52, of Nantymoel, Bridgend county, denies killing care worker Beverley Parkhouse, 45, at her father's nearby home in September 2006.

One inmate recognised the case from BBC Crimewatch and told another prisoner as there was a £20,000 reward, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

The two were described as "unscrupulous criminals", motivated by the reward.

The court has heard that Mrs Parkhouse, a married woman, had been having a secret affair with Mr Moore.

Peter Rouch QC, defending, said a number of prosecution witnesses were unreliable and their evidence was flawed.

Darren George and Glyn David Parfitt, inmates with Mr Moore while he was in custody at Cardiff Prison, had made up claims he had confessed the murder to them, said Mr Rouch.

He said: "When people are remanded in custody they say 'well, yes he told me this and that' but they may have ulterior motives.

These are called 'cell confessions' and they are very easily concocted, especially about people who are in prison for the first time like Mr Moore was Peter Rouch QC, defending

"These are called 'cell confessions' and they are very easily concocted, especially about people who are in prison for the first time like Mr Moore was."

It was obvious Mr Parfitt and Mr George had made the story up as they both made the same mistakes, said Mr Rouch.

Mr Parfitt said Mr Moore had said Mrs Parkhouse was wrapped up asleep in her duvet in Ogmore Vale when he killed her, while Mr George had claimed she was struggling and thrashing about, cutting Mr Moore's face, said Mr Rouch.

"You can't get two stories more different than that," said Mr Rouch.

He added: "The pair's only motivation in approaching the police about the cell confession was the reward. They are unscrupulous criminals whose evidence is not reliable."

Beverley Parkhouse was suffocated, the court had earlier heard

A prosecution claim that Mr Moore made inquiries about emigrating to Canada and Australia in the weeks after Mrs Parkhouse's death was denied by Mr Rouch.

He said: "Actually, phone records show that Mr Moore had been inquiring into emigrating since his divorce in 1996."

That Moore had deleted texts he had sent Mrs Parkhouse on his mobile phone was not suspicious, said Mr Rouch.

He said: "The prosecution made out that it was sinister that Mr Moore had deleted the texts, there is nothing sinister about it.

"It just goes to show how desperate the Crown are to rely on any shred of information they can get."

The court had earlier heard that Mr Moore had decided not to give evidence at his trial.

The trial continues.