Man with Prior Convictions Accused of Neighbor’s Murder in Swansea Trial

Testimony in a trial has revealed that a 71-year-old woman was sexually assaulted and fatally attacked by a neighbor she knew and trusted. Brian Whitelock, 57, is accused of killing Wendy Buckney, a retired riding instructor from Clydach, Swansea, in August 2022, using a knife, a table leg, and shelving. While he has admitted to manslaughter due to diminished responsibility, he denies the charge of murder. During his trial at Swansea Crown Court, it was disclosed that he had previously received a life sentence after being convicted of killing two men, one of whom was his brother. The jury was informed that he told neighbors, who observed him exiting Mrs Buckney’s ground floor flat covered in blood and dressed only in his boxers: “I don’t know why I’ve done it. She’s been good to me.” Chris Rees KC, the prosecutor, stated that Mrs Buckney “must have suffered greatly” because of her “multiple blunt and sharp force injuries”. He further noted that the pathologist was unable to accurately count the numerous stab wounds. Regarding Mr Whitelock’s prior convictions, Mr Rees recounted that in October 2000, he killed 34-year-old Nicky Morgan with a pick axe or hammer following an argument fueled by drink and drugs. Subsequently, he went to a nearby garage, came back with a jerry can of petrol, poured it over Mr Morgan, and started a fire. His brother, Glen, who was sleeping upstairs, died from smoke inhalation. In July 2001, he was convicted of Mr Morgan’s murder and his brother’s manslaughter. Mr Rees reported that when Mr Whitelock was apprehended on suspicion of Mrs Buckney’s murder, he remarked: “I’m not doing another life sentence.” Judge Martin Griffiths informed the jury that Mr Whitelock chose to represent himself instead of being represented by a solicitor. A post-mortem examination revealed that Ms Buckney had sustained multiple stab wounds and blunt force trauma to her face, head, arms, chest, and stomach. The court was told that defensive injuries were present on the back of her hands. She also sustained a fracture to her left eye socket and cheekbone, a broken jaw, and multiple other fractures. Fragments of chipboard were found embedded in injuries on her shins. Testimony in court indicated that Mr Whitelock informed neighbors he had tortured Ms Buckley and that she pleaded with him to stop. Mr Rees characterized Mr Whitelock as an individual with a violent past who asserts he was experiencing a brain injury and behaving uncharacteristically at the time of Ms Buckney’s death. However, Mr Rees stated that Mr Whitelock had previously engaged in what he termed “extreme and motiveless violence.” Forensic scientist Neil Wilson detected Ms Buckney’s DNA in intimate forensic swabs collected from Mr Whitelock. Mr Rees noted that while, from a purely biological and forensic perspective, these findings could be attributed to sexual activity, in his view, the presence of low levels of DNA on the swabs might also be explained by some form of indirect DNA transfer. The court was informed that after initially admitting to neighbors that he had killed Ms Buckney, Mr Whitelock subsequently provided police with an altered version of events. He claimed Ms Buckney had invited him into her flat for a drink and desired to have sex with him. Mr Whitelock denies any drug addictions and asserted he did not intend to harm Ms Buckney. He stated that prior to her death, he sustained two head injuries which caused bleeds on the brain. He claims he was addicted to diazepam and consumed substantial quantities of alcohol. He denies murder but has admitted to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, and the trial is ongoing.