Michael O'Leary murder trial: 'Man's body tissue found at home of accused'
- Published
Michael O'Leary was reported missing after failing to return home from work
Human tissue was found at the property of a man accused of murdering his wife's lover, a court has heard.
Andrew Jones, 53, is accused of luring Michael O'Leary to his farm on Bronwydd Road, Carmarthen, on 27 January before killing him.
Pathologist Dr Stephen Leadbeatter said DNA analysis had shown a 10g piece of intestine found at the farm originated from Mr O'Leary.
Mr Jones denies murder at Swansea Crown Court.
Dr Leadbeatter told the court that the tissue had two defects and "areas of discolouration", which could suggest it had been subjected to heat.
Andrew Jones denies luring Michael O'Leary to his farm before killing him
He said changes to the cells in the tissue and a loss of definition "could be in keeping" with the idea it had been exposed to heat.
Forensic scientist Robert Lewis told the court he had seen CCTV from Bronwydd Road that seemed to show a fire near a quarry face at the property in the early hours of 29 January.
Mr O'Leary, from Nantgaredig in Carmarthenshire, went missing on 27 January.
Rhiannon Jones had been having an affair behind her husband Andrew's back since 2019, the court was told
Mr Lewis said the CCTV seemed to show highly flammable materials being ignited and then dying back, possibly fuelled by petrol.
He said it was "highly unlikely" that the piece of tissue found would be the only remains of a human body left after any fire.
A forensic scientist told the court CCTV from Bronwydd Road seemed to show a fire at the property
Linda Ainscough, a forensic anthropologist, said a search and excavation of the defendant's property was carried out and a number of fragments of "apparent" bone were discovered.
She said DNA testing of the fragments did not yield any results.
The trial continues.
- Published18 September 2020
- Published15 September 2020
- Published14 September 2020
