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'Cat confession' man not guilty 'Cat confession' man not guilty
(about 1 hour later)
A 72-year-old man has been cleared of killing his partner in her bed. A 72-year-old man who prosecutors claimed had "confessed" to his cats has been cleared of killing his partner.
David Henton denied the murder and manslaughter of Joyce Sutton, 65, but prosecutors at Swansea Crown Court said he "confessed" hitting her to his cats. David Henton of Neath denied the murder and the manslaughter of Joyce Sutton, 65, who was found in her bed in 2006.
Police made secret recordings of Mr Henton talking to his cats, but his defence team argued the recordings could be interpreted differently. Secret police recordings showed him telling his cats he hit her, a Swansea Crown Court jury was told.
Mrs Sutton, a widowed mother-of-one, was discovered bludgeoned to death in her home in Skewen in January 2006. But his defence said the tapes could be interpreted differently. South Wales Police have not yet decided whether to reopen the inquiry into her death.
There were gasps from the public gallery as the forewoman of the jury declared that Mr Henton was not guilty of murder and the alternative charge ofmanslaughter.
Our thoughts are with thefamily of Joyce Sutton... they can be assured that we will continue to supportthem where we can Det Sgt Dave Peart
Mr Justice Grigson thanked the jury of nine women and three men for theirpatience during the 41 days of the trial.
Before Mr Henton left the court building he was embraced by members of the jury, who had taken nearly 12 hours to reach their verdicts.
Mr Henton declined to comment before he was driven away, and as he was led from court by his solicitors, the family of Mrs Suttonhurled abuse at him.
Det Sgt Dave Peart of South Wales Police said: "We acknowledge the not guilty verdict at Swansea Crown Court earlier today.
"Our thoughts are with thefamily of Joyce Sutton. They can be assured that we will continue to supportthem where we can."
Police arrested David Henton a year after Mrs Sutton's murder
He added: "No decision has yet been made as to whether the case will bereopened."
Mr Henton said he found Mrs Sutton dead after discovering the back door window of the property had been smashed. He then called the police.Mr Henton said he found Mrs Sutton dead after discovering the back door window of the property had been smashed. He then called the police.
He was charged after detectives secretly recorded largely solitary conversations with his cats Twinkie and Pudsey in January 2007, almost a year after Mrs Sutton's death.He was charged after detectives secretly recorded largely solitary conversations with his cats Twinkie and Pudsey in January 2007, almost a year after Mrs Sutton's death.
Joyce Sutton was found bludgeoned to death two years ago
The prosecution and defence team had argued over the interpretation of the recordings.The prosecution and defence team had argued over the interpretation of the recordings.
Excerpts the prosecution claimed illustrated his guilt such as "I hit my Joyce", were interpreted by the defence as "I miss my Joyce".Excerpts the prosecution claimed illustrated his guilt such as "I hit my Joyce", were interpreted by the defence as "I miss my Joyce".
The prosecution claimed microscopic glass particles from the broken window of Mrs Sutton's home were on Mr Henton's clothes and car mats.The prosecution claimed microscopic glass particles from the broken window of Mrs Sutton's home were on Mr Henton's clothes and car mats.
Darren Sutton was jailed for rape during his mother's murder inquiry
But police admitted in court that evidence bags used to gather the clothes were not sealed straight away which was "not good practice".But police admitted in court that evidence bags used to gather the clothes were not sealed straight away which was "not good practice".
Mr Henton had told the court he had known Mrs Sutton, a grandmother, for 32 years and he had never hit her or raised a hand to her.Mr Henton had told the court he had known Mrs Sutton, a grandmother, for 32 years and he had never hit her or raised a hand to her.
He told jurors any concerns would be talked through by the couple and that his time with her were the "best years of his life".He told jurors any concerns would be talked through by the couple and that his time with her were the "best years of his life".
He had nursed her when, in the latter part of her life, she developed depression and refused to get out of bed.He had nursed her when, in the latter part of her life, she developed depression and refused to get out of bed.
Darren Sutton was jailed for rape during his mother's murder inquiry
He also told the jury how Mrs Sutton's son Darren had borrowed several thousand pounds from him but never repaid the money.He also told the jury how Mrs Sutton's son Darren had borrowed several thousand pounds from him but never repaid the money.
Mr Henton described how he had been called over by Mrs Sutton because her son was there in a temper and he had found him with a knife in his hand in front of his mother.Mr Henton described how he had been called over by Mrs Sutton because her son was there in a temper and he had found him with a knife in his hand in front of his mother.
After trying to talk him into leaving the house he told the court there had been a struggle.After trying to talk him into leaving the house he told the court there had been a struggle.
Earlier in the trial, Mr Sutton denied murdering his mother while under cross-examination by Mr Henton's defence barrister.Earlier in the trial, Mr Sutton denied murdering his mother while under cross-examination by Mr Henton's defence barrister.
The court was told he was arrested on suspicion of the murder but the investigation was then dropped.The court was told he was arrested on suspicion of the murder but the investigation was then dropped.
During the murder inquiry Mr Sutton was arrested for rape and jailed, the court was told.During the murder inquiry Mr Sutton was arrested for rape and jailed, the court was told.