Son denies murdering OAP mother

Darren Sutton was jailed for rape during his mother's murder inquiry

A man has denied murdering his elderly mother when he was under cross-examination as a witness at the trial of the accused man.

Darren Sutton, 44, from Cimla near Neath, has been giving evidence at the trial of 72-year old David Henton.

Mr Henton denies murdering widow Joyce Sutton, 65, from Skewen, who died from head injuries, in January 2006.

Swansea Crown Court was told Mr Sutton was arrested on suspicion of the murder but the investigation was then dropped.

Cross-examining him on Thursday, Mr Henton's defence barrister Elwen Evans QC directly asked Darren Sutton "Did you murder your mother?" to which he replied, "No, I did not".

She then asked him: "On the night of the 10th to 11th of January 2006 did you go into your mum's bedroom?". Mr Sutton again answered, "No, I did not".

Violence

He was asked: "Did you injure your mother?". Again he replied, "No I did not".

Miss Evans then said "Employing on her the violence of which you are capable of?" Mr Sutton again answered, "No I did not".

Mr Sutton was then questioned by Paul Lewis QC, prosecuting, about David Henton's relationship with his mother.

He said David Henton was thinking of leaving her and that he said he had had enough.

Mr Sutton was then asked why he had said "it's about my mother" when police arrived at his home the morning his mother's body was found.

David Henton and Joyce Sutton were partners for 30 years

He said it was because he knew she was ill.

Questioned about describing his mother's death as "a blessing," Mr Sutton said that was after he had been told the post mortem examination showed she had lung cancer.

Paul Lewis then asked Mr Sutton: "Did you for financial gain, or because you're a horrible violent man, beat your mother to death in her bed?" He again replied, "No I did not".

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

Giving evidence on Thursday, Mr Sutton's ex-wife Anna told the jury that in the last six months of Mrs Sutton's life it was like she had given up making an effort.

'Bed'

She said they had encouraged Mrs Sutton to get up out of bed and to try to get her life back on track.

She also said she had spent the Tuesday night before Joyce Sutton's body was found, with Darren Sutton at their home in Cimla.

She said they had watched television and then gone to bed and said she had not heard anyone leave the house or come back in during the night.

The trial continues.