Victim was 'nicest person in the world' - murder accused

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

A man admitted killing his 71-year-old neighbour in a 999 recording played to a jury.

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.

The Swansea court was also told a mental health assessment carried out on Mr Whitelock days before the incident found he was "at low risk of harm to himself and others".

Mr Whitelock admits manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, but denies murder.

"I don't even know what I've done," Mr Whitelock is heard saying as a neighbour called 999, standing in his boxer shorts, with blood on him.

"She's the nicest person in the world."

He then says "I didn't want no money off her, she gave loads and now I've killed her", adding: "I hit her over the head.

"I just snapped, there's no reason I killed her."

The defendant then says he "deserved to be locked up".

Ms Buckney had paid the defendant to perform odd jobs around her home.

Yesterday the court was told Ms Buckney's family were concerned about him working for her, but she had told them: "Everyone deserves a second chance."

The 999 call to police was made by Mr Whitelock's neighbour, Jeffrey Llewellyn, on the morning of 23 August.

He had become increasingly concerned about Mr Whitelock's erratic behaviour in the days before Ms Buckney's death.

Mr Llewellyn told the operator in the recording: "He's just told me he's killed her."

As he is speaking to the call handler, Mr Whitelock can be seen on CCTV walking about outside the flats on Tan y Coed Road in Clydach.

The jury saw Mr Whitelock dressed only in boxer shorts covered in blood shouting up to a clearly shock Mr Llewellyn in his flat.

During the call, Mr Llewellyn asks the defendant: "Where is she, Brian?", and he replies: "Dead."

Mr Llewellyn is heard saying "I know she's dead Brian, where?"

Mr Whitelock shouts back to him that she is in the living room and is "stone cold".

Another neighbour went into the flat as they were speaking and confirmed the victim was dead.

She was discovered naked and had suffered so many injuries the pathologist was unable to accurately count them.

As they waited for the police to arrive, the jury heard Mr Llewellyn continue the conversation with Mr Whitelock.

He asked him what he killed Ms Buckney with.

The defendant can be heard on the recording telling him: "I killed her with loads of different things.

"I wasn't in a bad mood. I just killed her."

Bloodstained kitchen knives and a piece of wooden shelving were later found in her home.

Mr Whitelock is heard asking where the police are, before telling Mr Llewellyn: "I'm not right in the head."

In the days before the killing, Mr Llewellyn recorded a series of videos of Mr Whitelock in a confused state.

The defendant was convicted of killing two men including his own brother in 2001 and he had been released from prison after a life sentence.

He murdered Nicky Morgan, 34, by hitting him over the head with a pick axe or hammer in 2000 after a drink and drug-fuelled argument at his home in Blaenymaes, Swansea.

He set the house on fire, killing his brother Glenn who was asleep there.

Mr Llewellyn told the operator about his previous convictions, adding: "I knew this would happen."

Earlier the court heard in the days before Ms Buckney's death, Mr Whitelock had been seen in the emergency department of Morriston Hospital in Swansea.

In the early hours of the 19 August medical staff made a referral to a mental health crisis team.

He told the nurse carrying out the assessment he wanted diazepam telling her it was the only thing which made him sleep.

He said he used street valium and alcohol and told her he did not have a mental health problem.

The nurse assessed him as being "at low risk of harm to himself and others", and he was referred to a drug and alcohol charity for ex-offenders.

Four days later, Ms Buckney was found dead in her flat.

Mr Whitelock admits manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, but denies murder.

The trial continues.