The youth accused of murdering Ammanford hairdresser Kelly Hyde has admitted he "persistently" lied to police when they questioned him about her death.

The 17-year-old admitted he did not mention for "some time" that he had seen blood on the bridle path where she was attacked or that he had found a dog lead covered in her blood.

The teenager said he was afraid of being implicated in her murder.

The prosecution claim there was no blood on the path off Mill Terrace in Pantyfynnon and that the youth's shoes became stained in Miss Hyde's blood when he bludgeoned her to death on September 27 last year.

Giving evidence at Swansea crown court today, the youth said he could explain the blood stains only by saying he must have walked through the blood he saw on the ground.

He also said that immediately on seeing "about a cupful of blood on the floor" he noticed a dog lead and picked it up.

He did not notice the lead also had blood on it.

Later, he heard about a missing person and later a murder investigation. He panicked and hid the lead in the attic of his home.

Questioned by Patrick Harrington QC, prosecuting, he agreed he should have told the police about the lead on several occasions - when an officer called making general inquiries and later when he was questioned as a suspect.

During cross examination, he agreed he had not mentioned seeing any blood on the bridle path until police told him they had found Kelly's blood on his shoes.

"The reason is that that day you exploded into anger for reasons only you know. You killed Kelly," said Mr Harrington.

"No," said the youth.

He said he was concerned about telling anyone about the dog lead. "I didn't want to get sucked into it. I didn't know what the police would say. It had gone from a missing person to a murder investigation."

The youth, who cannot be named because of his age, denies murder.

The jury has now heard all the evidence in the case and on Monday will begin listening to closing speeches by barristers for the prosecution and defence.