Murder jury hears more ‘confession’ recordings

Feb 28 2008 Western Mail

SECRET recordings it is claimed are of a pensioner confessing murder to his dead victim were played to a jury yesterday.

David Henton, 72, of Neath, is on trial for the alleged murder of his long-term partner, Joyce Sutton, 65, at her home in January 2006. Police bugged Henton’s home and his car in January last year when they became suspicious that he was a murderer.

A jury at Swansea Crown Court listened to the covertly gathered conversations and monologues for a second day yesterday.

Henton denies murder. He claims he found her bludgeoned to death in bed when he called on her for a morning visit.

Prosecutor Paul Lewis QC, claimed the recordings contain a confession Henton apparently made to his cats.

But Henton’s defence maintains the sound quality of the recordings often allows for more than one interpretation.

The final several hours of bugged conversations were played to jurors yesterday.

In one excerpt, recorded while Henton was at home alone on January 24 last year, he appears to be speaking directly to Mrs Sutton whom he refers to as “Jean”.

“Hiya Jean, it’s Dai,” the prosecution transcript claims Henton is heard to say.

“They know I did it see. Aye,” he is alleged to have added. But the defence contest that interpretation and highlight how the recording is heavily muffled by the loud volume of a TV. It contends that all that can be heard is Henton saying, “No I did it see.”

The trial continues.