Delay in sealing murder evidence

David Henton's clothes were not sealed in police bag straight away

Evidence bags used by police to gather the clothes of a man accused of killing his partner were not sealed straight away, Swansea Crown Court has heard.

Det Con Christopher Mason told the trial of David Henton the bags were placed in the boot of a police car and then "rode around for some time".

The prosecution claims glass on Mr Henton's shoes came from the window of murder victim Joyce Sutton's home.

Mr Henton, 72, denies killing the 65-year-old Skewen grandmother in 2006.

Det Con Mason was one of the first police officers to arrive at Mrs Sutton's home after she had been found beaten to death in her bed early on 11 January, 2006.

He described how he took Mr Henton to Neath police station and then drove him home to Parc Wern, Skewen, where he took possession of his jacket, jumper, trousers and shoes.

The jury heard the officer placed the clothes in brown paper evidence bags but then found he did not have any tape to seal the bags.

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

Under cross-examination, he said the procedure he used was "undesirable, unsatisfactory and not according to regulations".

He agreed with Elwen Evans QC, defending, when she said it was vital that "in these days of DNA testing" the integrity of the exhibits was maintained.

He said he had "done the best I could at the time". The court heard the evidence bags were eventually sealed, but Det Con Mason could not say when.

Miss Evans asked him, "Do you accept that the procedure was far from satisfactory?" The officer replied: "Yes. It is not good practice."

Secretly taped

He explained that officers sometimes used tape and then did not put it back in the right place and, saying he wished to be "honest" with the court, he said it had happened on previous occasions.

Mr Henton is accused of breaking the back door of Mrs Sutton's home to make it look as if a burglar was responsible for her death. Mrs Sutton was bludgeoned to death in bed.

On Tuesday, the court heard a police constable who found Mr Henton holding her body and trying to rouse her said Mr Henton was led downstairs and shortly afterwards placed in an ambulance.

The prosecution claims Mr Henton did not have the chance to re-enter his car, which was parked nearby.

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

Mrs Sutton had recently developed depression and refused to get out of bed, the court heard.

The prosecution case is Mr Henton ended up nursing her but she had become "a burden he could no longer bear".

Mr Henton was arrested a year after her death when police secretly tape recorded him allegedly confessing to his cats.

Mr Henton denies murder and the case continues.