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Girlfriend 'strangled after row' Girlfriend 'strangled after row'
(about 2 hours later)
A man accused of killing his girlfriend on a mountain road had put young women into a "stranglehold" three times before, Swansea Crown Court has heard.A man accused of killing his girlfriend on a mountain road had put young women into a "stranglehold" three times before, Swansea Crown Court has heard.
Jason Shaddick, 28, is accused of strangling 21-year-old Jenna Watkins to death after a row.Jason Shaddick, 28, is accused of strangling 21-year-old Jenna Watkins to death after a row.
The jury was told he walked away, leaving Ms Watkins' body on the Bwlch mountain road between Port Talbot and Cimla, Neath.The jury was told he walked away, leaving Ms Watkins' body on the Bwlch mountain road between Port Talbot and Cimla, Neath.
Mr Shaddick, who shared a flat with Ms Watkins in Neath, denies murder.Mr Shaddick, who shared a flat with Ms Watkins in Neath, denies murder.
Huw Davies QC, prosecuting, said the couple had spent the evening of 20 April at the home of two friends in Port Talbot, but had argued.Huw Davies QC, prosecuting, said the couple had spent the evening of 20 April at the home of two friends in Port Talbot, but had argued.
Ms Watkins left the house on foot, but Mr Shaddick, who had been drinking heavily, drove after her and she had got in the car, Mr Davies said.Ms Watkins left the house on foot, but Mr Shaddick, who had been drinking heavily, drove after her and she had got in the car, Mr Davies said.
She fought for her life and there are clear signs of her struggle at the scene Huw Davies QC, prosecutingShe fought for her life and there are clear signs of her struggle at the scene Huw Davies QC, prosecuting
The couple's argument worsened and at about 0100 BST Ms Watkins had phoned her mother and told her Mr Shaddick was "driving like a maniac."The couple's argument worsened and at about 0100 BST Ms Watkins had phoned her mother and told her Mr Shaddick was "driving like a maniac."
It appeared, said Mr Davies, that both had grabbed hold of each other's telephone, before Mr Shaddick had snatched his girlfriend's and thrown it out of the car.It appeared, said Mr Davies, that both had grabbed hold of each other's telephone, before Mr Shaddick had snatched his girlfriend's and thrown it out of the car.
The jury heard Ms Watkins died shortly before 0130 BST, because at that point Mr Shaddick had used her mobile to telephone his father. The jury heard Ms Watkins died shortly before 0130 BST, because at that point Mr Shaddick had telephoned his father.
Jason Shaddick at a previous court appearanceJason Shaddick at a previous court appearance
Shortly afterwards, Mr Shaddick's two brothers had set out to find him and had come across him, but he had refused to get into their car.Shortly afterwards, Mr Shaddick's two brothers had set out to find him and had come across him, but he had refused to get into their car.
Further along the road they had found his vehicle and dialled 999, the jury heard.Further along the road they had found his vehicle and dialled 999, the jury heard.
His brother Leighton Shaddick told the emergency services he believed there had been an accident and Ms Watkins was already dead, the court heard.His brother Leighton Shaddick told the emergency services he believed there had been an accident and Ms Watkins was already dead, the court heard.
But Mr Davies told the jury there had been only a minor accident.But Mr Davies told the jury there had been only a minor accident.
After Mr Shaddick's arrest he would not answer police questions directly, but provided two written statements, the jury heard.After Mr Shaddick's arrest he would not answer police questions directly, but provided two written statements, the jury heard.
"They were full of prepared lies, untrue and deliberately so," said Mr Davies."They were full of prepared lies, untrue and deliberately so," said Mr Davies.
In the first, Mr Shaddick claimed the pair had argued and Ms Watkins had physically attacked him, causing the car to hit the embankment.In the first, Mr Shaddick claimed the pair had argued and Ms Watkins had physically attacked him, causing the car to hit the embankment.
'Temper''Temper'
Mr Shaddick said he put his arms around her from behind to calm her down, but she suddenly went limp.Mr Shaddick said he put his arms around her from behind to calm her down, but she suddenly went limp.
Asked by police to explain a bite mark to Ms Watkins' face, in a second statement he said Miss Watkins had grabbed his testicles and he had bit her to make her let go, Mr Davies told the jury.Asked by police to explain a bite mark to Ms Watkins' face, in a second statement he said Miss Watkins had grabbed his testicles and he had bit her to make her let go, Mr Davies told the jury.
The prosecutor said Mr Shaddick's explanations were lies. "She fought for her life and there are clear signs of her struggle at the scene."The prosecutor said Mr Shaddick's explanations were lies. "She fought for her life and there are clear signs of her struggle at the scene."
Mr Davies said Shaddick's claim to have acted "in the heat of the moment, in self defence" was untrue.Mr Davies said Shaddick's claim to have acted "in the heat of the moment, in self defence" was untrue.
"It was not the first time he had put a young woman in a stranglehold after losing his temper," he said."It was not the first time he had put a young woman in a stranglehold after losing his temper," he said.
He told the jury that Mr Shaddick had twice attacked a former girlfriend in a similar fashion and had twice been prosecuted.He told the jury that Mr Shaddick had twice attacked a former girlfriend in a similar fashion and had twice been prosecuted.
Last year he had also put Ms Watkins in a stranglehold but she had escaped, Mr Davies alleged.Last year he had also put Ms Watkins in a stranglehold but she had escaped, Mr Davies alleged.
The trial continues.The trial continues.