An ex-police officer has claimed his own force botched a murder inquiry leading to unfounded rumours his family was involved in the killings of a mother, her two little girls and their grandmother. Even more astonishingly, at neither trial was he called as a witness to explain his behavior. Morris said that it was a different gold chain that he wore to the pub (he owned two) that evening and that, with the clothes he was then wearing, it would not have been visible, anyway. The Kidnap and Murder of Lynda Spence: What happened and was her body ever found? The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. For some inexplicable reason, and in complete dereliction of duty, he left the site, returned to the police station, and did nothing, except telephone someone on a publicand therefore unrecordedphone. ", Fresh doubts over Clydach murders conviction, Convicted Clydach murderer 'an easy target', MP calls for review of Clydach murders conviction, Professor casts doubt on Clydach murders conviction, Police speak to 'new witnesses' after murder doc, Forensic review agreed for 1999 murders evidence, Russia launches missile attacks on Ukraine, Air strikes pound Sudan capital as truce extended, MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo dies. The medical causes of death were given as ischaemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus. This in turn threw out the reason why his chain would be at the home. How has this happened, and 22 years later Im still sat here, defending myself, telling people that Im not a murderer, when all I wanted to do was love her? There is an extensive and extremely interesting literature on this subject, which obsessed Welsh writers for much of the twentieth century. South Wales Police said in a statement: "The decision to carry out a forensic review does not constitute a reopening or reinvestigation of the murders, nor does it demonstrate any lack of confidence in the conviction of Morris and the subsequent case reviews. Are you interested in supporting the magazine? VideoThe secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, LGBT troops take love for Eurovision to front line. It was later determined the house was set on fire twice in an attempt to conceal the attack the first around 12.30/1am and a second one a few hours later. The inquiry was the largest and most complex murder investigation ever undertaken by a Welsh police force. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. It took seven years before someone was convicted for the crimesand then, it was possibly the wrong man. The main chapel in the little city of Brecon is now a pharmacy, caring for the bodies instead of the souls of the local people. Morris has always maintained his innocence, but a bid to take his case to the Court of Appeal was rejected as recently as 2018 by the Criminal Cases Review Commission. Pic: Sky, Mandy Power and her daughters Katie and Emily were murdered, Mandy Power's mother Doris Dawson was killed, Alison Lewis gave evidence during a trial over the murders, David Morris was sentenced to life imprisonment for the Clydach murders, Morris's sister Debra Thomas has long protested her brother's innocence. He had spent the rest of his life maintaining his innocence and appealing his conviction. how the shadow of the horrific crime has refused to life from the village, Danniella Westbrook rushed to hospital after 'life-changing' Turkish facial surgery, The former EastEnders actress said she was in extreme pain, The key DWP benefit payments and money changes kicking in from today, The changes could make a big difference to your finances, Tourists complain Snowdon is 'too steep' and would be 'better in Cornwall', 'What are they thinking? Police have now said an examination of a sock, widely believed to have been used by Morris during the killings, identified the presence of a mixed Y-STR profile that links him or a male relative on his paternal side to the crime scene. The only DNA evidence found was hers, in Mandy Powers vagina. A review of issues relating to the conviction of David Morris for the murders of Mandy Power, her two daughters Katie and Emily and her mother Doris Dawson in Clydach in 1999 has led to significant findings as a result of analysing key forensic evidence. ", Clydach murders: Blood-stained sock links David Morris to scene of killings, police say, David Morris was sentenced to life imprisonment for the Clydach murders. Read about our approach to external linking. A forensic review of evidence linked to the brutal murders of a family of four more than 20 years ago has been agreed. The prosecution claimed David was fuelled by drink and drugs when he went on the killing spree. The slaughter of three generations of the same family sparked the biggest criminal investigation in . The Clydach Murders, by John Morris, a retired lawyer, is first-rate, as gripping an account of a crime as one is likely to read. After waiting, wondering, they thought at last the 12-month murder probe might be drawing to a close when police made three arrests. They found a perfect substitute suspect in Morris, a man many believed capable of extreme violence. His lawyer, leading QC Narita Bahra, said: There are no winners in this tragic case, there are insufficient sticking plasters to make this investigation complete and speculation still continues 22 years after an innocent family were murdered in their home. A bloody print on the carpet, made with a gloved hand, fit Lewiss hand better than Morriss. Despite attempts to resuscitate him, he was confirmed dead a short time later. At first, he denied that the chain was his, though he acknowledged the lie a few days before his first trial, three years later. The tight-knit community of Clydach is still divided over who beat the family to death with a metal pole before setting their home on fire in the early hours, despite the conviction of Morris. Mostly, there is no determined motive as to why he would murder an entire family, with all evidence proving, at best, circumstantial. Welsh Christianity was often narrow-minded, bigoted, censorious, and hypocritical. Firefighters were called to the scene at around 4am for a kitchen fire, but it was only during the recovery mission, once it was put out, that the murder scene was uncovered. Following requests from his defence team, some items are to be examined by an independent forensic team. 2023 BBC. To bolster this claim, the police produced a small-time drug dealer, who said that he had sold Morris amphetamines shortly before the murders. The killer lit fires around the house in an attempt to hide the crimes. Will you be tuning into Murder in the Valleys on Sky Crime and Now? Sky Crime's new true-crime series, Murder In The Valleys, takes a deep dive into a 22-year-old case which many believe resulted in a wrongful conviction. The family had been bludgeoned to death with a pole in an "orgy of savagery", prosecutors said, before their house was set on fire in June 1999. Mandy Power, 34, Katie, 10, Emily, eight, and Doris Dawson, 80, died at their home near Swansea in June 1999. "I believe that what has been announced today could be the start of that process.". David 'Dai' Morris was . But the doubt surrounding the case means Stuart and his wife cant go out to a local restaurant without people pointing and sometimes verbally accusing him of involvement in the murders. He is serving a 32-year sentence. They were eventually ruled out as suspects in 2001. pic.twitter.com/P6G7hzHBLo. The murders in Clydach 15 years ago were almost unimaginably brutal. But the police were clearly reluctant to pin the blame on their ownnamely, one or both Lewis twins, or Alison, a former police officer. One such show that garnered attention for this phenomenon was the controversial drama 13 Reasons Why. "Morris was convicted unanimously by a jury on the strength of the prosecution case and independent reviews by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) have not identified any new evidence. Either it was true, in which case it suggested something about the morality of the eventual victim, as well as her attitude toward her elderly mother; or, if untrue, it suggested that Morris thought that it would have no effect on peoples view of him because, around here, everyone behaved like this. After being convicted once, Morris successfully fought for a retrial, and was convicted again. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, donations in support of MI and City Journal are fully tax-deductible as provided by law (EIN #13-2912529). However, Morris's sister Debra Morris said the announcement did not go far enough: "It's not independent for me. It shows an almost complete breakdown of official probitya probity that many of the British once (perhaps naively) thought characteristic of their society. Read about our approach to external linking. VideoThe secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, LGBT troops take love for Eurovision to front line, Why an Indian comedian is challenging fake news rules. Following Morris's death this summer, his family gave permission for a blood sample to be taken from him so the tests could be carried out. Morris, 59, collapsed and died by the medication hatch on Alpha wing in Long Lartin prison, Worcestershire, last August. There is an integrity to this, unlike to the system itself, which dishonestly takes acknowledgment of guilt and expressions of remorse as a proxy for improvement and reduced propensity to re-offend. Mrs Dawson, who was 80, was killed as she lay helpless in her bed, and the killer laid in wait for the others to return home. He spent 22 years in jail for killing Mandy Power, 34, her daughters Katie, 10, and Emily, aged eight, and her 80-year-old mother Doris Dawson. They were preparing to have a life together. Katie and Emily Power, who were murdered alongside their mother and grandmother in Clydach in 1999, Police Inspector Stuart Lewis has broken his 22-year-silence. Morriss family and supporters dismissed the new evidence as nonsense, and said their fight to clear his name will go on. Morris's trial in 2006 heard he had a sexual relationship with Ms Power and was fuelled by drink and drugs when he went on a killing spree in June 1999. "The police and the family of Mandy Power 100% think David Morris is guilty and would like this to go away. . All four women had been beaten in the head with a piece of lead piping that had become somewhat of a toy to the young girls, who liked to twirl it around like a baton. South Wales Police had also been coming under scrutiny for the number of criminal convictions that had been overturned in their jurisdiction, and their conduct throughout high-profile investigations. First, Morris was never seen in or near the vicinity of Mandy's home by any witnesses that evening. In July the Crown Prosecution Service said no information had been provided by the potential new witnesses to undermine the conviction. Morris said he did have sex with Mandy and asked for money for the chain, but only to affirm his innocence rather than hide his guilt. Several witnesses, however, deposed that she had arrived at 6 AM, before the events were common knowledge. 2023 BBC. Morris has from the first maintained his innocence. A gold chain that he wore turned up at the murder sitein effect, the only evidence against him, other than his bad character and reputation for violence. He told the TV documentary: I have no doubt at all that David Morris is the killer. Alison was also known to be expert in handling the kind of blunt instruments used in some forms of martial arts. Filmmaker Owen Phillips, who went to school near Clydach at the time of the murders, said the early media focus on Alison was partly because of her "unorthodox" relationship with Mandy and her martial arts training, which included a black belt in karate. There hasnt been a day when I havent missed her. Detective Carey said: "The outcome of the forensic assessment and completion of further actions have not established any information that undermines the conviction of Morris. Now, as the police review the evidence, this series examines a case that didnt just end with a man going to jail. University lecturer and journalist Brian Thornton, one of the founders of the Crime and Justice Research Centre at the University of Winchester, has studied the Clydach murders for a decade. The evidence against the Lewises was more compelling, though not probative. Morris' sister and aunt spoke with WalesOnline in September 2021 you can read the interview here. It is tragic that all involved in this high profile investigation were let down by a litany of mistakes and unprofessionalism. He said: The evidence identified at the outset to exonerate myself was lost, unobtainable, or destroyed. BBC News. The prosecution successfully argued Morris 'flew into a fit of rage' after Mandy had rejected his sexual advances, but there was male DNA found at the crime scene, including on the murder weapon that again did not belong to Morris. "HMP Long Lartin prisoner David Morris died on August 20," a Prison Service spokesman said. He was convicted of the murders for a second time in 2006, after an earlier conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal, and was jailed for a minimum of 32 years. The Clydach murders investigation was the largest and most complex homicide probe ever undertaken by a Welsh police force. After leaving the force he has been unable to find work because employers Google his name and discover he was linked to the Clydach murder probe. After a legal battle, Alison received custody of the children. Ms Power and her daughters were battered with a fibreglass pole, which the children used to play with, and Ms Power's body was sexually assaulted. Murder in the Valleys is a new true crime series looking at the horrifying Clydach murders. You can read here how the shadow of the horrific crime has refused to life from the village. Mandy Power and her daughters, Emily and Katie, were murdered in their home in 1999, David Morris faced two trials for the murders and was found guilty at both, A number of fires were lit in Mandy Power's house after the murders, The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure. A judge convicted him again at Newport Crown Court during a retrial in 2006 and David was sentenced to life imprisonment. People are entrenched in their views about who did it.". Murder in the Valleys premieres on Sky Crime and NOW on Sunday, February 6. "I remember lying on the floor of the car thinking: 'I'm going to die here in the back of this car and I won't be able to prove I'm innocent'. Speaking on the biggest murder inquiry in South Wales' history, he said: "I was a serving police officer 22 years ago, who was wrongfully arrested for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. David Morris was tried twice for murder after his first conviction was quashed. I still know a number of people in the Clydach area and it is very much believed that the convicted man is innocent. We have asked for this for a long time and South Wales Police are choosing who looks at it. Mandy Power, 34, her bed-ridden mother Doris Dawson, 80, and her daughters Katie, 10, and Emily, eight, were found dead by firefighters at . Theodore Dalrymple is a contributing editor of City Journal, the Dietrich Weismann Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, and the author of many books, including Grief and Other Stories. 2 years ago. Forensic review agreed for 1999 murders evidence, Fresh doubts over Clydach murders conviction, Police speak to 'new witnesses' after murder doc, Russia launches missile attacks on Ukraine, MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo dies, Air strikes pound Sudan capital as truce extended. When it collapsed, the coarsest hedonism replaced it, which the Clydach murder case illustrates graphically. She had so much to give and so much to live for. Speaking on the biggest murder inquiry in South Wales' history, he said: "I was a serving . It would be intriguing to know what proportion of Britains serious housing shortage results from the increasingly kaleidoscopic, and constantly fracturing, nature of relationships in our society.). Four people were found shot to death in rural Maine on Tuesday, and three motorists were wounded by gunfire on a nearby stretch of highway in a series of related incidents for which a single . Now a Sky Crime documentary re-examines the murders. In October 2021, after a new independent investigation into the murders was launched, the police ruled the bloodied sock contained 'a scientific link' with Morris. The negative impact on myself and my family over the last 22 years has been severe and long lasting. "Our thoughts remain with the families and those affected by this case and acknowledge the significant impact it continues to have on them," it added. According to Morris, the element of danger, of getting caught in flagrante, excited Power. A. man convicted of murdering three generations of the same family more than 20 years ago has died in prison, it has been confirmed. Morriss relationship with Jewell was volatilethe euphemistic expression for violence commonly employed when a couple exercises little self-controland he feared her reaction on discovering his infidelity. But the forensic evidence strongly suggested that Powers mother was the first to be killed, while the other victims-to-be were out of the house, only to be slaughtered on their return. During David Morris trial, the jury heard that hed had a sexual relationship with Mandy Power. It also investigates the enduring repercussions of the crime. Campaigners had spent years calling for his release, casting doubt on the integrity of the original investigation. "For 12 months, there were no arrests. What happened on the night of the murders in Clydach? Former Inspector Stuart Lewis was held in a cell for four days, interviewed 26 times and suspended for four years after being arrested in connection with one of the worst crimes in British legal history. Cat-and-mouse chase with China in hotly contested sea, Explore in 3D: The dazzling crown that makes a king. The jealous are not ever jealous for the cause, says Emilia in Othello. Firefighters found the bodies of Ms Power and the girls laid out on the landing when they came to tackle the blaze. Murder in the Valleys is a new true crime series looking at the horrifying Clydach murders. Morris died after serving 22 years in HMP Long Lartin, Worcestershire on August 20, 2021. Whoever was responsible sought to destroy the evidence by trying to burn the house down, but firemen extinguished the blaze before total destruction ensued. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? Devon and Cornwall Police, which oversaw the review, was also looking at forensic issues also challenged in the documentary, after Morris's legal representatives asked for various items of evidence to be released for further investigation. A judge convicted David of murder at Swansea Crown Court in 2002. Is climate change killing Australian wine? I was remanded in custody for four days, interviewed on 26 occasions and suspended for four years., In a statement given exclusively to the Mirror, Stuart says he believes police officers made a catalogue of errors fuelling speculation his family was responsible for the tragedy. Copyright 2023 Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, Inc. All rights reserved. A year before her arrest, Alison's lover Mandy Power had been found dead along with Mandy's mother Doris and daughters, Katie, 10, and Emily, aged eight. After dozens of people were pictured queuing outside a Tenby pub on Easter Sunday, the question emerged - is Tenby equipped to deal with all the people desperate to go there and experience its delights in 2023 and beyond? His trial heard he had a sexual relationship with Ms Power and was fuelled by drink and drugs when he went on a killing spree in June 1999. In January 2021, it was decided the police should re-examine the case. David Morris, 59, killed three generations of the same family in the Swansea Valley village in 1999. Now, a new four-part series takes a forensic look at the biggest murder investigation in Welsh history - with Alison agreeing to a TV interview about the case for the first time in more than a decade. For a long time, the principal suspect or suspects were Alison Lewis and her husband, Stephen, a police officer in the area, and his identical twin brother, Stuart, also an officer. The alibi could hardly be weaker: two suspects backing each other up. Digital Spy participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. A judge has ruled that an appeal on behalf of a man found guilty of murdering four members of the same family, should go ahead. He had a long string of criminal convictions and had served time in prison for acts of violence as well as of dishonesty. They said: "The loss and grief our family went through and continue to go through is heart-breaking and affects so many aspects of lives. The former Welsh women's rugby international, and ex-policewoman, had been arrested over the brutal killings of three generations of the same family - and a "baying, screaming" crowd was waiting for her. During that trial, the prosecution produced evidence via phone records proving he was at home at the time he claimed to be sleeping with Mandy. Stuart Lewis was the first senior policeman on the scene after firefighters had brought the blaze at 9 Kelvin Road under control and it became clear that four people had been killed before it was set. David Morris was found guilty of murdering an entire family of four including two young . He claimed he spent that day getting drunk watching the rugby at a local pub, where he also had a row with his girlfriend who then stormed off home. As for Alison Lewis, she testified that she had first arrived at Kelvin Road at 9 AM, about five hours after the fire started. Did this woman die because her genitals were cut? Murder On 13 Reasons Why. It appeared that both trial judges offered the jury a false, or at least irrelevant, dichotomy: either Morris was the killer, or one or more of the Lewises was. Video, The secret mine that hid the Nazis' stolen treasure, was convicted for the second time in 2006, there have been doubts cast over his conviction, Banana artwork in Seoul museum eaten by visitor, Explosion derails train in Russian border region, NFL player's daughter, aged two, drowns in pool, JP Morgan snaps up troubled US bank First Republic, Indian 'killer' elephant relocated to tiger reserve, Trump says 'great to be home' on visit to Scotland, Ding becomes China's first male world chess champion, Father tells how gunman opened fire on Texas home. Did this woman die because her genitals were cut? This case has been looked at and looked at and explored. Assistant Chief Constable David Thorne, of South Wales Police, said: South Wales Police has shown a commitment to providing evidence-based answers to the issues which have been raised about this case over many years. The killer lit fires around the house in an attempt to hide the crimes. A blood-stained gold chain found at the crime scene had led police to Morris, with paint found on the jewellery matching paint used on kitchen cabinets at his flat. It took more than two years for South Wales Police to arrest Morris, with an 11-week court case securing him four life sentences. When 13 Reasons Why debuted in 2017, it was a . But perhaps the most significant feature of the story, at least to me, is what appears to be the total moral collapse of at least part of Welsh society. The case deeply divided the community for more than 20 years despite the conviction of a local builder. It was around midnight on Saturday . But South Wales Police have refused to release the report regarding the DNA to his defence team, which despite his death in August 2021, is continuing to fight for his exoneration. The development prompted a rare statement from Mandy's family who called on Morris's supporters to accept his guilt. No forensic evidence or DNA connected . ST. LOUIS COUNTY Two people are dead after an apparent murder-suicide in north St. Louis County. What happened was absolutely horrendous - you can't begin to understand the [Power] family's pain and suffering. THE CASE: The worst mass murder in South Wales criminal history was also the most grotesquely savage. Some locals still buy into the debunked theory that a former police woman, her husband and his twin brother carried out the killings. "Those sort of things don't really happen in those sort of communities - close-knit, industrial communities," he says. Not one of them has got one piece of evidence. But they were possibly worse than incompetent. The investigation, named Operation Dolomite, was led by detectives Steve Carey and Ian Ringrose and police forensic expert David Lloyd from Devon and Cornwall Police. But the judges ignored this evidence in their charges to the jury, giving credence to her alibi: that she was in bed with her husband, Stephen, at the time of the murders. Police arrested David Dai Morris for the murder of Mandy Power and her two daughters, Katie and Emily. A blood-stained sock found at a crime scene links the man convicted of the Clydach murders from 22 years ago, South Wales Police have said. However, scientists cannot determine how or when the profile was transferred onto the sock, but claim the DNA is more likely than not to be Morris's. You can find this story in My Bookmarks. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. They might have been telling the truth, of course, but if so, given the definite recollections of the other witnesses, it is hard to resist concluding that, whoever was guilty, at least one criminal conspiracy was taking place in this so-called close-knit community. He also wanted a similar chain to evade suspicion that the one at the crime scene was his. As an angry mob gathered outside a police station, Alison Lewis thought she was going to be killed. Read about our approach to external linking. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. That it was present suggests, more likely than not, that Lewiss contact with the victim was more recent than she admitted. Stuart spoke out on the eve of the launch of Murder in the Valleys, a Sky Crime TV documentary probing the murders and the police investigation. "They completely believe he didn't do it and they'll say it's not a question of blind faith," Phillips says of Morris's family. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. None of us know 100% that David Morris is innocent - the fact is, we will probably never know for certain what happened in Clydach that night. Despite the evidence placed against him by the prosecution, and his double conviction, there is an equal amount of evidence to suggest Morris was not guilty of the crimes. I loved being with her and everything about her made me happy.. Morris was convicted of the murders in 2002 - but the verdict was quashed on appeal due to a conflict of interest by a defence solicitor. Among the evidence was a blood-soaked sock police believe was used as a glove, and a gold chain that appeared to have been pulled off the killer in a fight with Mandy. South Wales Police commissioned a review in the hope that we could in some way provide closure for those most affected by the murders. But in what kind of society can personal dignity and self-respect be achieved only through wrongful imprisonment for decades? He spent 22 . She carried on casual affairs with men, including one eventually found guilty of the murders: David Morris (no relation to author Morris). Alison herself had been in the police force but had been invalided out on disability after witnessing an upsetting suicide. Clydach murders: CPS rejects new evidence over brutal killings of mum, two daughters and gran; Story Saved.
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