Jury is due to hear from death accused

Feb 13 2008 by Liz Keen, South Wales Echo

ROYSTON Moore, the man accused of murdering his secret lover in her bed, is expected to give evidence at Cardiff Crown Court today.

In a prosecution case which has lasted more than three weeks, Moore 53, has been accused of suffocating married mum Beverley Parkhouse in her father’s Ogmore Vale home.

It’s been alleged he then set fire to her bed in an attempt to hide the evidence before fleeing the terraced house where he claims he used to meet her at night, while her elderly dad was asleep.

Mrs Parkhouse, 45, had been married for 27 years to her husband Andre and lived with him opposite their grown-up daughter in Oakfield Terrace, Nantymoel, but was spending time with her father after her mother died suddenly in March 2006.

Kenneth Palmer, 76, found his only daughter dead in his home on September 4.

Moore of Nantymoel Terrace, Ogmore Vale, admits meeting her outside the property that night but denies going in and killing her.

This morning he was expected to go into the witness box at the opening of his defence case.

(proceeding)