Murdered OAP's son denies lying

Darren Sutton was jailed for rape during the murder inquiry

The son of a pensioner found murdered in her home has agreed in court his alibi for the night she died may be a "nonsense" - but he denied lying.

Darren Sutton - once arrested on suspicion of killing his mother Joyce Sutton - said he had been watching television at home with his then wife.

But Swansea Crown Court heard the times he said he was watching did not add up.

He was being cross-examined at the trial of David Henton, 72, of Skewen, near Neath, who denies murder.

Mr Sutton repeatedly told police and then a jury that on 10 January, 2006, he had watched Arsenal v Wigan and then Celebrity Fitclub on television at his home in Cimla before taking tablets for a toothache and going to bed at 2230 GMT.

Mr Sutton said he recalled Celebrity Fitclub had been screened between 2100 GMT and 2200 GMT, which, according to a pathologist, could have been around the time 65-year-old Mrs Sutton was battered to death at her home in Skewen, two miles away.

David Henton and Joyce Sutton were partners for 30 years

Cross examined by Elwen Evans QC, representing Mrs Sutton's long term companion Mr Henton, Mr Sutton was asked: "Would it surprise you to know it was broadcast between 8pm and 9pm?"

He replied: "It would surprise me."

Miss Evans said: "If that is the case your alibi is a nonsense."

Mr Sutton went on: "If that is the case, yes."

Miss Evans said: "Lying through your teeth?" to which Mr Sutton replied: "No, definitely not."

Miss Evans suggested that, as Mr Sutton and his then wife slept in separate rooms and that "she could not hear a thing with ear plugs in", she was unable to say what he had done after she had gone to sleep.

Glass fragments

The court also heard that during the murder inquiry Mr Sutton was arrested for an offence of rape and jailed.

While in prison he wrote letters to his wife, one of which read, "I hope we are as one in my mother's inquiry.... we were together all night and none of us left the house."

The jury was told the murder inquiry into Mr Sutton was eventually dropped. A year later police turned their attention to Mr Henton, who had found Mrs Sutton's body early on 11 January, 2005.

She died from head injuries. A glass panel in the back door had been broken but the prosecution claim Mr Henton did that himself to make if look as though a burglar had been responsible.

The prosecution argue that glass fragments from the door were later found in his car and on his clothing.

The trial continues.