'Cat confession' pensioner dies

David Henton was cleared by a jury at Swansea Crown Court in March

A 72-year-old man who was cleared of killing his long-term partner two months ago has died.

It is understood David Henton, of Neath, passed away at Neath Port Talbot hospital at the weekend.

He had stood trial for the murder and manslaughter of Joyce Sutton, 65, who was found in her bed in Skewen in 2006.

Prosecutors had claimed that in a secret recording he had "confessed" to his cats that he had killed Mrs Sutton but he was cleared by a jury.

Widow and mother-of-one, Mrs Sutton, was found bludgeoned to death in bed at home in January 2006.

Former lorry driver Mr Henton claimed he found Mrs Sutton dead after discovering the back door window of the property had been smashed. He then called the police.

Mr Henton was charged after officers secretly recorded largely solitary conversations with cats Twinkie and Pudsey in January 2007.

The trial at Swansea Crown Court lasted 41 days.

A spokesman for South Wales Police said: "No decision has been taken as to whether the case will be re-investigated. The case is currently being reviewed."