A man accused of murder was seen “dripping in blood” and admitted he had “stabbed” a grandfather later found dead, his co-defendant has told their trial.
A police interview with 40-year-old Jeffrey Ward – who, along with Steven Baxter, denies the murder of Simon Clark – were read to jurors on the fifth day of their trial at Swansea Crown Court.
The body of Mr Clark, 54, was discovered on the morning of September 28 last year at Grove Caravan Park in Pendine, Carmarthenshire, where he and the defendants both lived. He had been fatally stabbed in the heart.
On Friday DS Damon Beale, who conducted the interview, read a transcipt of the exchanges to the court.
Ward told DS Beale he had “no knowledge” of what had happened, claiming he and Baxter went walking their dogs on September 27 – the day of the alleged murder.
Ward said when they returned they went to the caravan occupied by Baxter and his partner Linda telling the officer they “do a bit of growing [cannabis] together”.
The defendant told DS Beale he could then hear Mr Clark shouting outside and said the pair got into an altercation in which he was punched by Mr Clark and he responded by punching him three times.
Ward said he then went back inside and later saw Baxter who claimed he had been stabbed. He described how Baxter’s arm was “dripping in blood” and said there had been a hole in his arm.
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Ward said he got in his car to drive away from the caravan park and was joined by Baxter who asked him to stop his car in the Laugharne area.
He said Baxter had been carrying an item wrapped inside a T-shirt but after getting out of the car he returned five minutes later empty-handed.
Ward said he asked him “Who stabbed who butt?” and claimed Baxter responded: “He (Mr Clark) stabbed me and I stabbed him back.”
The court heard Ward went to the home of friend Ian Evans in St Clears and he was subsequently arrested there on September 30 after being found by police with his legs dangling from the ceiling.
A statement from Mr Evans read to the court said: “I heard a knock on the door and Jeff ran towards the back door. He could hear them shouting ‘police’.
“Jeff ran up the attic and fell through the ceiling with his legs hanging through.
“When they said he was being arrested on suspicion of murder I was shocked. Jeff said nothing. I had no idea.”
PCSO Helen Wilkinson, who was on duty on the day Ward was arrested, said: “I could hear a banging in the living room and then saw a pair of legs come through hanging from the ceiling. He was brought down safely and arrested for murder.”
Ward told officers during the interview: “I got frightened. There were so many coppers outside. I fell through the attic and came through it.”
Baxter, 52, and Ward, both of Grove Caravan Park, deny murder.
The trial, which is expected to last up to four weeks, continues.
Here are the stories we have published from the trial so far:
