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Hammer accused's 'steamy texts' Hammer accused blames 'intruders'
(about 5 hours later)
A council worker sent "pretty steamy texts" to his girlfriend hours before he tried to kill his pregnant partner and unborn child a court has heard. A council worker accused of a hammer attack on his pregnant partner at home said in court he had tried to protect her after she was struck by intruders.
Simon Morris, 36, from Prestatyn, Denbighshire, denies trying to kill Nerys Price, 35, claiming they were attacked by intruders. Simon Morris, 36, from Prestatyn, Denbighshire, said he woke up and heard Nerys Price, 35, moaning and groaning.
The jury heard he knew Ms Price had been struck twice, something only the attacker could have known. The jury at Mold Crown Court heard that Mr Morris knew his partner had been struck twice, something only the attacker could have known.
Mold Crown Court heard he had sent texts to girlfriend Kate Christian. Mr Morris denies trying to kill his partner and their unborn child.
The jury heard on Monday how Mr Morris talked about four poster beds and water beds during a text conversation with Ms Christian, hours before the attack on Ms Price in August 2008. "Whether something else had woken me up that I am not aware of, or whether Nerys woke me up, that is my first memory, waking up and wondering what had happened," he told the jury.
She replied that she would not be able to wear suspenders and stiletto heels in it, the court heard. It was like a nightmare. I just didn't know what was going on. I didn't know what to think, what to do. Simon Morris
If I had caught them, I would not be here now and the police would have the right person Simon Morris He added: "The first thing I heard was the moaning. It was within seconds now, I had not heard an impact but I felt something come past my head, very very close, although I did not hear a specific impact.
"I didn't really know what was going on but I felt something come very close to me."
Mr Morris said he heard some sort of movement behind him.
Asked what he thought, he said: "I didn't know. It was like a nightmare. I just didn't know what was going on. I didn't know what to think, what to do."
Morris said that he had tried to protect his partner. "I was trying to get my arm out to hold her," he said.
The court heard that Mr Morris had sent "pretty steamy texts" to a girlfriend, Kate Christian, just hours before the attack in August last year.
Nerys Price has since had a baby daughter
Patrick Harrington QC, prosecuting, said Mr Morris's texts contained more than 30 kisses on them, showing Ms Christian was his priority, not his pregnant partner.Patrick Harrington QC, prosecuting, said Mr Morris's texts contained more than 30 kisses on them, showing Ms Christian was his priority, not his pregnant partner.
Days before, he had sent a message saying: "Has anyone told you how gorgeous, sexy, beautiful, stunning, attractive, foxy, lovely, lush, exquisite, perfect, angelic, radiant and special you are?"Days before, he had sent a message saying: "Has anyone told you how gorgeous, sexy, beautiful, stunning, attractive, foxy, lovely, lush, exquisite, perfect, angelic, radiant and special you are?"
The prosecution allege Mr Morris, a highways officer with Denbighshire Council, wanted Ms Price dead so he could inherit hundreds of thousands of pounds in insurance and start a new life with Ms Christian.The prosecution allege Mr Morris, a highways officer with Denbighshire Council, wanted Ms Price dead so he could inherit hundreds of thousands of pounds in insurance and start a new life with Ms Christian.
The court has heard the couple changed their wills weeks before the attack, and he was the sole beneficiary of her estate.The court has heard the couple changed their wills weeks before the attack, and he was the sole beneficiary of her estate.
Mr Harrington said: "You decided that the best way to sort out your future, become rich and get rid of Nerys, was to kill her.Mr Harrington said: "You decided that the best way to sort out your future, become rich and get rid of Nerys, was to kill her.
Nerys Price has since had a baby daughter
Mr Morris replied: "Not in any way at all. I am still offended that I am being accused of it."Mr Morris replied: "Not in any way at all. I am still offended that I am being accused of it."
Mr Harrington said: "What you did was to set it up, get your financial arrangements in place so that when you killed her, you would scoop the jackpot."Mr Harrington said: "What you did was to set it up, get your financial arrangements in place so that when you killed her, you would scoop the jackpot."
Strong feelings
Mr Morris said: "Not at all. There was no need for anything like that. It's ridiculous."Mr Morris said: "Not at all. There was no need for anything like that. It's ridiculous."
He admitted going for a walk along a river with Ms Christian the afternoon before the attack, but denied it was romantic.He admitted going for a walk along a river with Ms Christian the afternoon before the attack, but denied it was romantic.
However, he agreed he had strong feelings for Ms Christian, adding: "I won't deny that. I am not proud of seeing someone else while living with Nerys while she is pregnant.However, he agreed he had strong feelings for Ms Christian, adding: "I won't deny that. I am not proud of seeing someone else while living with Nerys while she is pregnant.
"I cannot explain that. But those feelings did not detract from my care for Nerys.""I cannot explain that. But those feelings did not detract from my care for Nerys."
The jury has already heard evidence that Ms Price awoke from the attack and Mr Morris told her she had been hit twice on the head.The jury has already heard evidence that Ms Price awoke from the attack and Mr Morris told her she had been hit twice on the head.
Mr Harrington, who described Mr Morris as "an accomplished liar," said: "You knew that she had been hit twice because you were the one who hit her."Mr Harrington, who described Mr Morris as "an accomplished liar," said: "You knew that she had been hit twice because you were the one who hit her."
The hammer was found in a spare room at the house
Mr Morris said that was not true, adding that he may have said that at a later stage, after examining her injuries.Mr Morris said that was not true, adding that he may have said that at a later stage, after examining her injuries.
Skull fractures
Mr Morris said he saw a "silhouette or someone leaving the bedroom" immediately after the attack.Mr Morris said he saw a "silhouette or someone leaving the bedroom" immediately after the attack.
Mr Harrington questioned the defendant - who is 6ft 6in tall and weighed more than 18 stone at the time of the attack - about his reaction.Mr Harrington questioned the defendant - who is 6ft 6in tall and weighed more than 18 stone at the time of the attack - about his reaction.
He asked: "A man with any bottle would have chased him wouldn't he?"He asked: "A man with any bottle would have chased him wouldn't he?"
Mr Morris said: "That has haunted me ever since these events.Mr Morris said: "That has haunted me ever since these events.
"I cannot explain my actions."I cannot explain my actions.
"If I had caught them, I would not be here now and the police would have the right person.""If I had caught them, I would not be here now and the police would have the right person."
Earlier, Nicholas Johnson QC, Mr Morris' barrister, asked him: "Did you try to kill Nerys Price and your unborn daughter?"
"No, absolutely not," he answered.
Ms Price suffered two skull fractures and needed surgery, from which she later recovered.Ms Price suffered two skull fractures and needed surgery, from which she later recovered.
Her daughter Freya was born by emergency Caesarean section.Her daughter Freya was born by emergency Caesarean section.
Mr Morris denies attempted murder and the attempted destruction of an unborn child.Mr Morris denies attempted murder and the attempted destruction of an unborn child.