'Break-in' glass in accused's car

David Henton was 'very distressed' said police who found him

A pensioner accused of murdering his long-term partner and faking a break-in at her house had glass from the broken window in his car, a jury has heard.

David Henton, 72, denies murdering widow Joyce Sutton, 65, from Skewen, who died from head injuries, in 2006.

Pc Rhodri Davies told Swansea Crown Court Mr Henton was upstairs saying "help me, help me" when he and a colleague arrived at Mrs Sutton's home.

He said Mr Henton did not have time to go to his car which was parked nearby.

Giving evidence on Tuesday, the police officer said he and Pc Simon Davies "jogged" the few yards from Skewen police station to Mrs Sutton's home in Winifred Street early on 11 January 2006.

The court heard the pair noticed a glass panel in the back door had been smashed and Pc Simon Davies reached through the hole to unlock the door.

Pc Simon Davies felt for a pulse - I said 'Simon, she's gone' Pc Rhodri Davies

Pc Rhodri Davies said they heard Mr Henton's calls from upstairs and found him holding the body of grandmother Mrs Sutton and trying to rouse her.

Mrs Sutton was bloodstained and lying on a bed, the court heard. Mr Henton was holding her with both hands.

Pc Davies said: "He was very distressed and seemed to be in a state of shock. Pc Simon Davies felt for a pulse. I said, 'Simon, she's gone.'"

He said Mr Henton was led downstairs and shortly afterwards placed in an ambulance.

The prosecution claim the accused did not have the chance to re-enter his car, which was parked nearby.

Floor mats were removed from the vehicle and, according to Paul Lewis QC, prosecuting, they had on them fragments of glass from the smashed back door.

Joyce Sutton was found lying bleeding in bed, the jury heard

Mr Henton is accused of breaking the door himself to make it look as if a burglar was responsible for Mrs Sutton's death.

The court has heard couple had known each other for 30 years but lived at separate addresses.

The prosecution claims Mrs Sutton had become for Mr Henton a "burden he could no longer bear" after she developed depression and refused to get out of bed and he ended up nursing her.

The jury has been told police secretly installed devices in his home and his car and recorded him apparently confessing to his cats, a claim dismissed by the defence.

Mrs Sutton was bludgeoned to death in bed, and the court was told the investigation was a year old before police turned their attention to Mr Henton.

Mr Henton, also of Skewen, denies murder and the case continues.