The trial of a man accused of murdering his wife by strangling her at their home in Bridgend is set to enter its seventh day. Michael Davies, 57, is on trial at Newport Crown Court accused of murdering his wife Tracey Davies, 48, at their home at Bryn Terrace, Cefn Cribwr, near Bridgend, on April 18 last year. He denies murder but accepts he killed her and has told police he did so by strangling her between 7.30am and 8am that morning.
Tracey was found dead on a bed in one of the bedrooms. The defendant Davies had cuts to his throat and leg and was found slumped behind the bedroom door.
Evidence heard so far in the trial includes details from Davies' police interview, where he outlined how he killed his wife. Davies told officers he didn't have control of what he was doing, saying: “I loved her to bits but I didn’t seem to have any understanding over my hands. I’m not sure what I was even doing. I just wanted to keep strangling her.”
The court has also heard from Davies' family members, including his daughter, a pathologist who was called to the scene of the crime, and a forensic expert.
Evidence heard on Monday included detail of how on April 13 Ms Davies contacted her husband's friend, Glen Clatworthy, to ask him to speak with her husband because she was “so worried about him”. She and other family members had been expressing concern for his welfare ahead of Tracey's death.
On Tuesday, evidence is expected to be heard from Davies' defence. Davies, of Cefn Road in Bridgend, denies murdering his wife on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
Tributes were paid to Tracey, who was described as a "devoted mother", at the time of her death. In a statement, her family said Ms Davies was "an extraordinary woman" with a "fierce spirit" and "boundless compassion". The trial continues.
