Murder accused takes to the witness box (From South Wales Guardian)

Murder accused takes to the witness box

1:58pm Thursday 10th July 2008

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The teenager accused of battering to death Ammanford hairdresser Kelly Hyde took to the witness box today as his defence team opened their case.

Appearing before a packed Court One at Swansea Crown Court, the 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, explained how he had risen on the morning of September 27 at 10.23am before having breakfast and watching television.

The boy said that his mum's then partner received a telephone call some time after 11am telling him that the accused had a new job and was expected to start the following morning.

The boy then took his dog for a walk along the bridlepath, smoking a cannabis joint as he went.

Asked by defence solicitor Mr Huw Davies whether it was possible he had been seen by a neighbour before 10.23am, the boy said: "I was not up at that time."

He also denied owning the plain grey jumper that the neighbour claimed to have seen him wearing at 9.45am.

The boy also claimed he had not seen Ms Hyde before taking his dog out.

"I did not know her and I have never seen her," he said.

The teen will continue answering defence questions this afternoon before he comes under cross examination from prosecution barrister Patrick Harrington QC later today.

The defendant denies murder and the case continues.

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