Brother killer stabbed neighbour to death - court

Wendy Buckney had so many stab wounds when she died that the pathologist could not count them, a court is told

A 71-year-old woman was sexually assaulted and murdered by a neighbour she knew and trusted in a ferocious attack, a trial has heard.

Brian Whitelock, 57, allegedly used a knife, a table leg and shelving to kill retired riding instructor Wendy Buckney from Clydach, Swansea in August 2022.

He admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, but denies murder.

His trial at Swansea Crown Court was told he had previously been convicted of killing two men - including his own brother and given a life sentence.

The jury heard he told neighbours who saw him leave Mrs Buckney’s ground floor flat covered in blood and wearing only his boxers: "I don't know why I've done it. She's been good to me.”

Chris Rees KC, prosecuting, said Mrs Buckney “must have suffered greatly” due to her “multiple blunt and sharp force injuries".

He added there were too many stab wounds for the pathologist to accurately count.

Referring to Mr Whitelock’s previous convictions, Mr Rees said he killed 34-year-old Nicky Morgan with a pick axe or hammer after a drink and drug fuelled argument in October 2000.

He then went to a local garage, returning with a jerry can of petrol which he poured over him and lit a fire.

His brother Glen was sleeping upstairs and died of smoke inhalation.

In July 2001 he was convicted of the murder of Mr Morgan and the manslaughter of his brother.

Mr Rees said, when Mr Whitelock was taken into custody on suspicion of Mrs Buckney’s murder, he said: "I'm not doing another life sentence."

Judge Martin Griffiths told the jury Mr Whitelock would defend himself rather than be represented by a solicitor.

A post-mortem examination found Ms Buckney had suffered multiple stab wounds and blunt force trauma to her face, head, arms, chest and stomach.

Defence injuries were found on the back of her hands.

She suffered a fracture to her left eye socket and her cheekbone, her jaw was broken and she suffered multiple fractures, the court heard.

Fragments of chipboard were recovered from injuries to her shins.

The court heard Mr Whitelock told neighbours that he tortured Ms Buckley and that she begged him to stop.

Mr Rees said Mr Whitelock is a man with a history of violence who claims he was suffering from a brain injury and was acting completely out of character at the time of Ms Buckney's death.

But Mr Rees said he had been involved in what he described as "extreme and motiveless violence" in the past.

DNA belonging to Ms Buckney was detected in intimate forensic swabs taken from Mr Whitelock by forensic scientist Neil Wilson.

Mr Rees said whilst the findings could be explained by sexual activity, purely from a biological and forensic point of view, in his opinion, the presence of low levels of DNA on the swabs could also be explained from some form of indirect transfer of DNA.

The court heard that after initially telling neighbours he had killed Ms Buckney, Mr Whitelock later gave police a different account of events.

He said Ms Buckney had invited him into her flat for a drink and wanted to have sex with him.

Mr Whitelock denies having any drug addictions and said he did not intend to harm Ms Buckney.

He said he suffered two head injuries before her death that resulted in bleeds on the brain.

He claims that he was addicted to diazepam and was drinking significant amounts of alcohol.

He denies murder but admits manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and the trial continues.