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Victim 'could not make break' Victim 'could not make break'
(10 minutes later)
A psychiatrist has told a murder trial that the 21-year-old victim died because she was unable to make a clean break with her former boyfriend, 50.A psychiatrist has told a murder trial that the 21-year-old victim died because she was unable to make a clean break with her former boyfriend, 50.
Philip Packer, from Porthcawl, strangled Jenna Thomas and drove her body to the local police station.Philip Packer, from Porthcawl, strangled Jenna Thomas and drove her body to the local police station.
Dr Robert Reeves told Cardiff Crown Court the 28-year age gap made it inevitable the relationship would end.Dr Robert Reeves told Cardiff Crown Court the 28-year age gap made it inevitable the relationship would end.
Mr Packer, who denies murder, was a workaholic depressed at losing his job when Ms Thomas left him, he said.Mr Packer, who denies murder, was a workaholic depressed at losing his job when Ms Thomas left him, he said.
The psychiatrist said it was a sign of Ms Thomas's "niceness and kindness" that she continued to see Mr Packer but repeatedly raising and dashing his hopes had been highly stressful.The psychiatrist said it was a sign of Ms Thomas's "niceness and kindness" that she continued to see Mr Packer but repeatedly raising and dashing his hopes had been highly stressful.
He said: "Mr Packer's increasing descent into depression and Jenna's inability to make a clean break were the seeds of this tragedy," he said.He said: "Mr Packer's increasing descent into depression and Jenna's inability to make a clean break were the seeds of this tragedy," he said.
Jenna Thomas was 19 when she began a relationship with Philip PackerJenna Thomas was 19 when she began a relationship with Philip Packer
He believed the trigger for Mr Packer strangling her was when Jenna said it was too late to go back to him. He believed the trigger for Mr Packer strangling her was when Ms Thomas said it was too late to go back to him.
At that time he believed that Mr Packer, who had lost his job at a Maesteg cosmetics firm, was suffering from clinical depression.At that time he believed that Mr Packer, who had lost his job at a Maesteg cosmetics firm, was suffering from clinical depression.
In a statement for the defence Philip Packer's ex-wife Julie, who left him when she discovered the affair, said he had never been violent in their 30 years together. But Dr Philip Joseph, a psychiatrist called by the prosecution, said he did not believe that Mr Packer was suffering from clinical depression when he strangled Ms Thomas.
He said that if Mr Packer had been clinically depressed, he would not have been able to continue with his work as a nightclub doorman and to keep up his exercise regime after Ms Thomas left.
His behaviour in following Ms Thomas around at night suggested he was obsessed, rather than depressed, the court heard.
'Good husband'
Dr Joseph also cast doubt on Mr Packer's suicide attempt, in which he said he had taken 36 tablets.
The psychiatrist said that if he had been serious about killing himself, he would not have sent a text message to Ms Thomas telling her what he had done.
In a statement for the defence Mr Packer's ex-wife Julie, who left him when she discovered the affair, said he had never been violent in their 30 years together.
She said he had been a good husband who took a pride in providing for the family, sometimes working more than 100 hours a week.She said he had been a good husband who took a pride in providing for the family, sometimes working more than 100 hours a week.
The jury has been told the couple met when they were bouncer and a barmaid at a club in Porthcawl.The jury has been told the couple met when they were bouncer and a barmaid at a club in Porthcawl.
The relationship began when he was 47 and she was 19.The relationship began when he was 47 and she was 19.
Stopped for breakfast
It lasted two years, and for most of that time they were living together. But last May, Ms Thomas left him, and the following month, she was dead.It lasted two years, and for most of that time they were living together. But last May, Ms Thomas left him, and the following month, she was dead.
Starting a family
The jury has heard evidence of Mr Packer's interviews with police in which he said that he loved her and wanted to marry her.The jury has heard evidence of Mr Packer's interviews with police in which he said that he loved her and wanted to marry her.
At one stage, they had talked about starting a family, he said. When she left, he was determined to win her back.At one stage, they had talked about starting a family, he said. When she left, he was determined to win her back.
On the day she died, he was giving Ms Thomas a lift to the shop where she worked.On the day she died, he was giving Ms Thomas a lift to the shop where she worked.
They stopped for breakfast, and then stopped twice in the Porthcawl area to talk.They stopped for breakfast, and then stopped twice in the Porthcawl area to talk.
Eventually, he drove her to a lane near Stormy Down.Eventually, he drove her to a lane near Stormy Down.
'Give me a row'
He asked her to come back and she said it was too late. But he told detectives it was "just a disagreement, not a slanging match".He asked her to come back and she said it was too late. But he told detectives it was "just a disagreement, not a slanging match".
He could not explain why he put his hands around her neck. She struggled a bit, while he continued to squeeze her neck.He could not explain why he put his hands around her neck. She struggled a bit, while he continued to squeeze her neck.
Mr Packer said in his police interviews he believed Ms Thomas was alive.Mr Packer said in his police interviews he believed Ms Thomas was alive.
"I thought she would wake up and give me a row," he said."I thought she would wake up and give me a row," he said.
After driving round for a while, he said he called his father who told him to go to the policeAfter driving round for a while, he said he called his father who told him to go to the police
During his interviews, he insisted that he had not intended to hurt his former girlfriend, let alone kill her.During his interviews, he insisted that he had not intended to hurt his former girlfriend, let alone kill her.
"If I could change places now, I would straight away," he told police."If I could change places now, I would straight away," he told police.
"I would rather be dead and her be alive.""I would rather be dead and her be alive."
The trial continues.The trial continues.