A man accused of beating to death Mandy Power and her family in their Clydach home, said he had sex with her the day before the murders, a jury has heard.
Eric Williams told Newport Crown Court that defendant David Morris also told him he left his gold necklace there.
The bloodstained chain was later found by police in the murder scene.
Mr Morris, 44, of Craig-cefn-parc, near Swansea, denies murdering Mrs Power, her two children and their grandmother at their home in Clydach.
Giving evidence on Monday, Mr Williams explained that the defendant - whose previous convictions for the killings were quashed on appeal - began working for him as a labourer the day after the murders in 1999.
He told the jury that Mr Morris said he knew Mandy Power and had seen her a day before when he had sex with her.
Mr Morris told him that he meant to get his gold chain back but he had not got the opportunity as he had been with his own girlfriend.
The chain, which was bloodstained, was found at one of the points of most extreme violence.
Mr Williams then told the court that he had been asked to buy a new chain for Mr Morris, who is his second cousin.
The court was told that Mr Williams bought a replacement on his behalf as she was worried staff in the shop would later be questioned about the purchase.
Replacement chain
Mr Williams said he had asked the defendant if he had anything to do with the murders. Mr Morris denied any involvement.
Once the new chain has been bought, the court heard how Mr Morris rubbed it in cement and damaged the clasp to make it look more like his old one.
Mr Williams admitted to the court that he had subsequently lied to the police but in a later statement admitted buying a replacement chain.
Mr Williams said he later had a phone call from Mr Morris, saying he would never forgive him for what he had done.
The prosecution allege that Mrs Power, her daughters Katie, 10, Emily, eight, and grandmother, Doris Dawson, 80, were "massacred" at their home in Kelvin Road in on Sunday 27 June 1999.
All four had been bludgeoned with an iron bar and their home was then set on fire to cover up evidence.
The jury has heard the prosecution allege the defendant probably exploded into a rage after his sexual advances were spurned.
The trial continues.
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