Posted on 09/15/2020 2:11:43 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Michael O'Leary, 55, from Nantgaredig in Carmarthenshire, failed to return home from work on January 27 and is alleged to have been murdered by Andrew Jones from Carmarthen
A husband who discovered his wife was having an affair allegedly shot her lover dead then moved his body using a forklift, a murder trial heard.
Andrew Jones is charged with the murder of missing Carmarthenshire 55-year-old Michael OLeary. Prosecutors say the defendant lured Mr O'Leary to a farm before shooting him dead and then concealing his body.
Mr O'Leary was reported missing on the evening of January 27 after he failed to return to his Nantgaredig home from work and his whereabouts remain unknown.
William Hughes QC, opening the case for the prosecution at Swansea Crown Court on Monday, told the jury the alleged murder had been planned carefully with the defendant also taking steps "to cover up or destroy evidence of the crime, in particular Mr OLearys body, in an attempt to hinder the police investigation.
The court heard Mr OLearys family reported him missing after his wife and three sons received a text message, apparently sent by his mobile telephone, which read: Im so sorry x.
On March 14 this year a piece of human tissue of a small intestine was discovered inside a rusty oil barrel being decanted at Jones address by police during a search of the property. It matched the DNA profile of Mr OLeary.
Mr Hughes said the defendant's wife, Rhiannon Jones, had been having an affair with Mr OLeary, which Jones became aware of in September 2019 when he discovered messages on her iPad.
He confronted his wife about it and she told him the affair had ended as Mr OLeary did not want to leave his wife.
Some of the messages between Mr OLeary and Mrs Jones were intimate and graphic in content, the court heard.
On Tuesday Mr Hughes told jurors a number of bullet casings were discovered at Cyncoed Farm where Mr OLeary had allegedly been lurder by police.
He said forensic officers believe they were fired by a Colt .22 rifle found at the defendants home.
Mr Hughes told the jury it was the prosecutions case that Mr OLeary was shot and killed and that a forklift was then used to move his body. This is due to blood-staining contact on the blades of the forklift.
Mr OLearys DNA was found on various pieces of blood-stained clothing at the defendants home while burnt human bone and possibly scorched intestinal tissue were discovered by crime scene investigators.
Mr Hughes told jurors: Mr Jones was doing his utmost to get rid of evidence linking him with the murder and getting rid of Mikes remains.
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Mr Hughes said after he was arrested Jones told police investigators Mr OLeary died in a tragic accident during a confrontation.
Jones claimed he wanted to threaten Mike and took with him a rifle with the intention of frightening Mike OLeary, said Mr Hughes.
He fired two or three shots into the ground with the intention of frightening him.
Mr Hughes said Jones claimed there was a scuffle between the two men which led to Mr OLeary being shot in the head.
Jones is said to have claimed the bullet went through his chin.
Mr Hughes said: He says he does not know who caused the firearm to discharge. If he did cause it, he said, he did so accidentally.
Mike died instantly and the defendant panicked.
The court heard Jones admitted moving the body and the car and sending the text messages to Mr OLearys family.
Jones, 53, of Bronwydd Road in Carmarthen, denies murder and his trial, expected to last up to four weeks, began on Monday.
The case, which is being heard by Mrs Justice Jefford, continues.
Reputable sources claim Mrs. O’Leary’s cow was not injured.
While playing the “Too Fat Polka.”
I hate when my wife takes a lover that requires a forklift to move.
Ok, is that a real place?
Is someone pulling my chain?
Yes, it should only be someone who you can use a dolly to move.
Welcome to Wales. Free Cymru.
This will become the screenplay for a future episode of Midsomer Murders. Entitled ??????.
Doesn’t it require a minimum of 3 murders to make the Midsomer Murder cut? Barnaby, while a nice guy, may be the worst detective in all of England.
Why is this a story? Everybody knows dead bodies are heavy.
Just how big was he?
I’ve been meaning to ask you for some time, are you from Wales? I see you post a lot of articles from Wales. I’ve been there a couple times on vacation.
His nickname was “Tiny.”
Wales or Whales?
We should have picked our own potatos.
Walk in, see them at it, tell them to carry on, if they can, grab your stuff, clear out the bank account and wish them Have A Nice Day.
That’s a question for his wife and his ex-lover, and most likely referenced in their email exchange.
Now that I have my trebuchet available, I feel much better. The forks piercing the body on a forklift leaves incriminating bloodstains. BUT moving the body to a hill overlooking a steep valley and trebuchetting it way out there onto a large tall tree will leave a lasting impression on all of the other would be suitors. I’m always trying to think outside of the box.
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