Pc murder trial told of threats

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A jury has been told about threats allegedly made by a man hours before an ex-Pc facing charges over child abuse pictures was stabbed to death.

Daniel Marcel Williams denies murdering Geoffrey Harries, 49, at Trimsaran, near Llanelli in Carmarthenshire.

Pc Stuart Flynn told Swansea Crown Court Mr Williams shouted he was going to get the "paedo" on his estate.

Mr Flynn said the defendant said: "He's one of you lot. If you're not going to do something about it, I will."

The opening of the trial on Thursday was told Mr Harries, a former Dyfed-Powys Police officer, who was at the time facing charges for having indecent images of children, was stabbed 20 times in June 2008 in a "brutal and merciless attack".

On Friday, jurors were told the death threat was made just after Mr Williams's brother Chad had been arrested outside a pub. Mr Harries and his wife had moved to his mother's house in Trimsaran

Pc Flynn told the jury he had wanted to speak to the defendant about the threat, but was worried it would inflame the already tense situation outside the pub.

Shortly afterwards, he was called to a road accident in Llanelli and passed Mr Williams, who was walking in the middle of the road.

By that time, he was totally calm and told the officer he was just "being stupid in front of his mates".

Pc Flynn said Mr Williams gave his name as Martin Preece and he told him to go home and sleep it off.

Elwen Evans QC, defending, suggested Mr Williams had not made any threats, but had only been complaining that the police were doing nothing about a paedophile living on his estate.

Asked how he could remember the exact words when he made no note at the time, Pc Flynn replied: "Because he carried it through."

Drink driving

But Miss Evans suggested that after Mr Harries's death, the officer had "put two and two together and made about nine."

The prosecution says Mr Harries was stabbed 20 times after he confronted Mr Williams, who'd been slashing his car tyres.

The opening of the trial heard that Mr Harries was on police bail and had moved in with his wife to his mother's house at Trimsaran where they lived seven doors from Mr Williams.

Neighbours, especially Mr Williams, who lived with his brother, were unhappy at his arrival, the court was told.

Paul Thomas QC for the prosecution said Mr Williams and his brother had been stopped as they were leaving a pub.

He said: "Chad Williams was arrested for drink driving and his brother started picking a fight with the police. He shouted the word 'paedo' more than once."

Combat knife

Mr Thomas said Mr Williams mentioned Mr Harries's address and said: "Send a car there in about 20 minutes. I'm telling you, I'm going to have him."

The jury was told that a police patrol car was sent to the estate to keep watch on Mr Harries's house but left after 30 minutes when it "seemed quiet and calm".

But the prosecution alleges Mr Williams had "a long-standing fascination with military equipment and knives" and showed the jury a 6in combat knife bought by the defendant.

Mr Thomas said Mr Williams was dressed in a black hooded top and possibly a black balaclava and gloves when Mr Harries later spotted him outside the house.

He described how Mrs Harries went upstairs to bed and looked outside to see Daniel Williams crouched behind their van.

"She guessed correctly that he was slashing the tyres - she told her husband and he went out.

"Within a few minutes Geoffrey Harries was bleeding to death."

Mr Thomas said: "It was a brutal and merciless attack."

The court heard Mr Williams later denied involvement in the killing until police found Mr Harries's blood on his boots, jeans and hooded top when he changed his story and said it was an act of self-defence.

The trial continues on Monday.