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Killer had knife to 'slash tyres' | Killer had knife to 'slash tyres' |
(about 11 hours later) | |
By Nick Parry BBC News website CCTV footage showed Daniel Williams in the pub in TrimsaranJust hours before an altercation in which a former policeman would be killed, Daniel Williams was drinking at a pub. | |
A row developed with officers when Williams' brother Chad was arrested for drink driving. | A row developed with officers when Williams' brother Chad was arrested for drink driving. |
While walking back to his home in Trimsaran, Carmarthenshire, 30-year-old Williams decided to slash Geoffrey Harries' tyres to let him know he was not welcome in the community. | While walking back to his home in Trimsaran, Carmarthenshire, 30-year-old Williams decided to slash Geoffrey Harries' tyres to let him know he was not welcome in the community. |
Mr Harries, who had served with Dyfed-Powys Police but had left the force, was due in court accused of having 2,082 indecent images of children. | Mr Harries, who had served with Dyfed-Powys Police but had left the force, was due in court accused of having 2,082 indecent images of children. |
Swansea Crown Court was told Williams had previously slashed a tyre on Geoffrey Harries' van and poured brake fluid over the bonnet. | Swansea Crown Court was told Williams had previously slashed a tyre on Geoffrey Harries' van and poured brake fluid over the bonnet. |
From the time Mr Harries and his wife moved in to his mother's house at Dythel Park some neighbours had been unhappy about his presence. | From the time Mr Harries and his wife moved in to his mother's house at Dythel Park some neighbours had been unhappy about his presence. |
The Harrieses moved there from their own home in Pembrey because of "hostile incidents" after his arrest. | The Harrieses moved there from their own home in Pembrey because of "hostile incidents" after his arrest. |
Williams, who has been cleared of Mr Harries' murder but found guilty of manslaughter, lived just seven doors away in Trimsaran. | Williams, who has been cleared of Mr Harries' murder but found guilty of manslaughter, lived just seven doors away in Trimsaran. |
On 6 June last year he had been drinking with his brother Chad at the Bird in Hand pub. | On 6 June last year he had been drinking with his brother Chad at the Bird in Hand pub. |
Mr Harries's blood was found on the defendant's clothesEnlarge Image | Mr Harries's blood was found on the defendant's clothesEnlarge Image |
They were stopped as they were leaving and his brother arrested for drink driving. | They were stopped as they were leaving and his brother arrested for drink driving. |
Williams denied making threats about Mr Harries but admitted in court that he intended to slash his tyres. | Williams denied making threats about Mr Harries but admitted in court that he intended to slash his tyres. |
A patrol car was sent to the estate to keep watch on Mr Harries' house but left after 30 minutes when it "seemed quiet and calm". | A patrol car was sent to the estate to keep watch on Mr Harries' house but left after 30 minutes when it "seemed quiet and calm". |
Mr Harries' wife Elizabeth was to tell the jury in the early hours of the following day, she and her husband saw a man crouching behind a van outside their home and suspected he was trying to slash their tyres. | Mr Harries' wife Elizabeth was to tell the jury in the early hours of the following day, she and her husband saw a man crouching behind a van outside their home and suspected he was trying to slash their tyres. |
Mr Harries went to investigate and she followed moments later. | Mr Harries went to investigate and she followed moments later. |
Mrs Harries said she could not see the identity of the man as he was wearing a hood. | Mrs Harries said she could not see the identity of the man as he was wearing a hood. |
"Geoff was saying 'I haven't done anything. I would never do anything like that'. He was saying it in a pleading tone," she told the jury. | "Geoff was saying 'I haven't done anything. I would never do anything like that'. He was saying it in a pleading tone," she told the jury. |
"I shouted 'Can't you leave us alone. He hasn't done anything to anybody'. | "I shouted 'Can't you leave us alone. He hasn't done anything to anybody'. |
"The man ran off and a street light reflected on something metallic. | "The man ran off and a street light reflected on something metallic. |
"My husband turned to face me and said 'I have been stabbed'. He was stumbling and staggering. He collapsed in my arms." | "My husband turned to face me and said 'I have been stabbed'. He was stumbling and staggering. He collapsed in my arms." |
The Bird In The Hand pub in Trimsaran | The Bird In The Hand pub in Trimsaran |
Mrs Harries told how she tried to stem the bleeding but with little success. | Mrs Harries told how she tried to stem the bleeding but with little success. |
Williams had taken a combat knife from his home, the court heard, but said he had no intention of doing anything to Mr Harries himself. | Williams had taken a combat knife from his home, the court heard, but said he had no intention of doing anything to Mr Harries himself. |
Williams told the jury he was acting in self defence because Mr Harries had hit him and pinned him to the ground. | Williams told the jury he was acting in self defence because Mr Harries had hit him and pinned him to the ground. |
"He was massive on top of me and I couldn't breathe. He had his right forearm on my throat, pushing all his weight down," Williams told the court. | "He was massive on top of me and I couldn't breathe. He had his right forearm on my throat, pushing all his weight down," Williams told the court. |
"I thought he was going to kill me. I couldn't move." | "I thought he was going to kill me. I couldn't move." |
Williams said that he tried to hit Mr Harries. | Williams said that he tried to hit Mr Harries. |
"He jumped up off me. I stood up, facing each other. I didn't get to see how he looked or what he was wearing," he said. | "He jumped up off me. I stood up, facing each other. I didn't get to see how he looked or what he was wearing," he said. |
"I sprinted off as fast as I could to get away from him." | "I sprinted off as fast as I could to get away from him." |
Mr Harries was taken to West Wales General Hospital, Carmarthen, and later transferred to Morriston Hospital, Swansea, where he died. | Mr Harries was taken to West Wales General Hospital, Carmarthen, and later transferred to Morriston Hospital, Swansea, where he died. |
Doctors found he had suffered 20 stab wounds, including a fatal injury to his back which penetrated his right lung. | Doctors found he had suffered 20 stab wounds, including a fatal injury to his back which penetrated his right lung. |
The court was told Williams had "a long-standing fascination with military equipment and knives" and the jury was shown a 6in (15cm) combat knife bought by the defendant. | The court was told Williams had "a long-standing fascination with military equipment and knives" and the jury was shown a 6in (15cm) combat knife bought by the defendant. |
When Williams went to the house that night he was dressed in a black hooded top and possibly a black balaclava and gloves. | When Williams went to the house that night he was dressed in a black hooded top and possibly a black balaclava and gloves. |
At first he denied any involvement in the killing until police found Mr Harries' blood on his boots, jeans and hooded top. | At first he denied any involvement in the killing until police found Mr Harries' blood on his boots, jeans and hooded top. |
He then said he had acted in self defence. | He then said he had acted in self defence. |
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