Hammer accused begins his defence

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A man accused of trying to murder his pregnant partner and their unborn child has begun giving evidence at his trial.

Simon Morris, 36, from Prestatyn, Denbighshire, denies attacking Nerys Price, 35, as she slept in her bed.

Mr Morris told Mold Crown Court he was "overjoyed" when his partner became pregnant in late 2007.

But by summer 2008, he had begun seeing another woman and his relationship with Ms Price had become "distant". The trial was adjourned until Monday.

The prosecution, which argues Mr Morris attacked his partner with a hammer at their home in August 2008, concluded its case on the seventh day of the trial.

Mr Morris's defence counsel called him as a witness.

He told the court he began seeing the other woman, Kate Christian, after meeting her at a music night in a pub.

I didn't dislike Nerys - I still looked out for her and was there Simon Morris

He told the jury that by this time Ms Price had been working long hours and the pair did not spend much time together.

He said that did not detract from his care and attention of Ms Price and the baby.

He said: "There were a lot of feelings there. We had grown apart but her welfare and the pregnancy remained my number one concern.

"I know it was not right to have feelings for someone else but that is how it was, that is how it happened.

'Sensible'

"I didn't dislike Nerys. I still looked out for her and was there."

Nicholas Johnson QC, defending, asked if there was any truth in the prosecution's claim that he had manipulated the finances and wills to ensure he would inherit everything once Ms Price had been killed.

Mr Morris replied: "None at all. It shocks me to this day. There is absolutely no truth in that whatsoever."

He said that Ms Price was very sensible with money and the pair had made their wills to each other to ensure the financial security of their then unborn child.

He added: "We were not married. We were worried about things automatically going where they ought not. "

Ms Price was 38 weeks pregnant when she suffered two skull fractures as she slept in the early hours of 15 August, 2008.

Daughter

The prosecution claims Mr Morris wanted her dead in order to collect hundreds of thousands of pounds in insurance money and set up life with another woman.

The court has also heard accusations that Mr Morris falsely claimed intruders had broken into the home.

Miss Price recovered after emergency surgery and her daughter Freya was born by Caesarean section.

Mr Morris denies attempted murder and attempted child destruction. The trial continues.