The Clydach Murders, Beyond Reasonable Doubt, Miscarriage Of Justice, BBC Wales, 22 October 2020

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  • Опубліковано 15 вер 2024
  • At last the jitter-free version of this documentary for which you have all been praying ;-)
    Here is the previous version - lots of interesting comments • The Clydach Murders, B...
    And the previous BBC documentary from around 2000 • 1999 Clydach Murders: ...
    Campaigners rally for man convicted of killing four members of the same family
    www.walesonlin...
    Helen Hignett
    / helen.hignett
    Clydach killer David Morris is serving a whole life sentence but supporters believe he is innocent
    Campaigners rallied in Swansea city centre calling for a man convicted of multiple murders to be freed.
    David Morris was sentenced to four life sentences in 2002 following the horrific murders of Mandy Power, 34, her daughters Katie, 10, and Emily, eight, and her mother Doris Dawson, 80, who were all beaten to death in Clydach in June, 1999.
    Morris' conviction was later quashed in 2005 and retrial was ordered after judges ruled that a conflict of interest involving a member of his legal team meant he had not received a fair trial.
    However, in 2006, he was again convicted on four counts of murder.
    Although failing in his attempts to get the verdicts overturned, Morris has always protested his innocence.
    On Sunday morning, scores backing the campaign staged a protest in Swansea City Centre. Gathered in Castle Square carrying green and yellow balloons and ribbons, they handed out leaflets and chanted "Free Dai Morris".
    The notorious Clydach murders
    The Clydach murders were the most brutal multiple killings in Welsh history.
    The brutal murder of three generations of a Swansea Valley family shocked the nation back in 1999 and led to one of the biggest murder investigations South Wales Police has ever seen.
    Mandy Power, aged 34, her daughters Katie, 10, and Emily, eight, (all pictured) and their grandmother Doris Dawson, 80, were killed at their Kelvin Road home in Clydach.
    First the killer entered his victims’ home, went upstairs and smashed a heavy fibreglass pole repeatedly into the face of 80-year-old invalid grandmother Doris Dawson.
    When Mandy and her daughters arrived home, he killed them in identical, sadistic fashion.
    The killer set fire to incinerate all trace of his actions.
    Three years after the crimes, builder David Morris, now 55, was handed four life sentences for killing Mandy, 34, and her family.
    The group's ultimate aim is to raise political awareness in the hope of forcing the case back open.
    Geraint Evans, who helps to run the group, said at Sunday's rally: "There's massive support for him, not only in Swansea but across the UK.
    "We are here to raise awareness in Swansea for the people who are not on social media.
    "The members just keep growing and at the moment we are getting between 200 and 300 a day."
    Donna Hayes, from Penlan, was at the rally to "raise awareness" of the campaign.
    "I believe that Dai is innocent," the 49-year-old said.
    "I don't know the family but I feel strongly that he should not be where he is.
    "I'm here to raise more awareness and to hopefully see if anyone can come through with more evidence that can help to get him released."
    A lesbian affair
    In the days and weeks after the Clydach murders, the public became gripped with the revelations about Mandy Power's lesbian relationship with a married police officer.
    It emerged that Mandy's lover was a former women police sergeant married to a male officer who was the identical twin brother of a local police inspector who was the first officer on the scene.
    All three police officers were arrested and repeatedly interviewed however none were charged.
    It was only three years later that David Morris (pictured) faced court and was jailed for life.
    Also at the event in Swansea was Michael O’Brien, who spent more than 11 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.
    In recent weeks a social media group calling for Morris's release has gone from hundreds of members to almost 13,000.
    David Jones, 65, from Penlan, said that the increase in the number of members and the turn-out on Sunday morning "shows how strong the feeling is" for Morris.
    Darren Protheroe had travelled from Carmarthen to attend the rally as he has been supporting the campaign since it began.
    The 41-year-old, originally from Gendros in Swansea, said that he is "hoping to see Dai Morris's case reviewed by the Criminal Cases Review Commision (CCRC)."
    The group of campaigners met in Castle Square before heading to Maggie Dicks in Brynhyfryd where their previous public meeting was held.
    Present at that meeting was former solicitor John Morris, who wrote the controversial 2017 book, The Clydach Murders: A Miscarriage of Justice.
    "Whether you like Dai Morris or not doesn’t really matter," he had told the meeting. "Looking at the case from a totally objective point of view I can only come to the conclusion that he must be innocent.

КОМЕНТАРІ • 112

  • @dr9211
    @dr9211 3 роки тому +55

    David Morris is innocent and it don't take a rocket scientist to know who the real killers are the Lewis brothers, why aren't they in jail, coz the corrupt South Wales police are covering for each other.. Liars and murderers, the whole lot ov them.. How the Lewis's and the scumbags police that are covering can sleep at night I really don't know.. Nicola Williams give a foto fit ov the person who she saw and it was one ov the Lewis's brothers, being twins which ov them it was take your pick, they both involved.. Put the pair in jail along with the Welsh Myra Hindley (Alison Lewis) Free Dai Morris now...

    • @tonydoherty2190
      @tonydoherty2190 2 роки тому +10

      South Wales police have had plenty of practice they can sleep fine

    • @jeweliedee4299
      @jeweliedee4299 Рік тому +6

      Yes, I watched the documentary and that police chief was disgusting. He lied through his teeth to protect 2 policemen. He had the nerve to talk about David Morris' betrayal of his family, when all the while he himself was guilty of the worst betrayal a policeman can commit, framing and locking up an innocent man.

    • @06hurdwp
      @06hurdwp Рік тому +2

      He has been conclusively forensically linked with the crime scene including the murder weapon and a bloodied sock

    • @charliecharliecharliecharl8554
      @charliecharliecharliecharl8554 Рік тому

      The investigation officer saying that extra marital affairs are not a motive for murder what plant does he live on covering up so much evidence pointing at the brothers that is only coming out now

    • @debrathomas4556
      @debrathomas4556 Рік тому

      @@06hurdwp no he hasn’t at all police are withholding the report it’s only their word we have for it and as we all know are compulsive repulsive liars!!

  • @jayneboucher7974
    @jayneboucher7974 3 роки тому +34

    An innocent man died in prison, while the guilty walk free, the real killers need to be brought to justice and David Morris name cleared. R.I.P 💔

    • @tonydoherty2190
      @tonydoherty2190 2 роки тому +2

      He isn't the only innocent man who died in prison and unfortunately he won't be the last

    • @stayhappy8213
      @stayhappy8213 2 роки тому +4

      I just watched the documentary on this case and came to YT for some feed back. I honestly think that David is innocent but didn't realise he had passed. So just googled this whilst reading your comment and says 2021...died under suspicious circumstances?

    • @whitehead571
      @whitehead571 2 роки тому +1

      @@stayhappy8213 heart attack!

    • @stayhappy8213
      @stayhappy8213 2 роки тому

      @@whitehead571 thank you.

    • @hefinrosser8685
      @hefinrosser8685 Рік тому

      Let's pray the true killer is found. Justice for Andrew morris family ❤

  • @TJD-qt2cl
    @TJD-qt2cl 2 роки тому +17

    There’s just no way a pissed up man could kill four people and not be seen by anybody.

    • @TJD-qt2cl
      @TJD-qt2cl 2 роки тому +3

      @Simon McCreath mmmmm that’s very true , but even if your on speed ,Your still wrecked and off your head and still not seen by one person ? .

    • @bigkuriboh3814
      @bigkuriboh3814 2 роки тому

      @@TJD-qt2cl it's not hard to not be seen at such a time in such a small village.

    • @admpollard4257
      @admpollard4257 Рік тому +3

      Yeah but the police twins woz seen around the time very ov,,,

  • @waynekieft4952
    @waynekieft4952 2 роки тому +22

    You don't need to be a Sherlock Holmes to work this one out ! I grew up with Dai ,bit of a loose cannon and a hard man maybe,but no way was he murderer of 2 women and two little girls,FACT ! We all know who committed these horrific murders and they are still out there walking amongst us! Shame on South Wales Police! I know what they are capable of after being stitched up myself and charged with something I did not do! R.I.P Dai and I hope the family gets justice for this despicable miscarriage of justice.

    • @77oxf
      @77oxf Рік тому +5

      According to the lead detective not getting your leg over after a night out is motive to kill an entire family, but your partner having an affair isn't motive. Yeah, that was the stupidity involved with this..... facepalm.

    • @GS-ec1yh
      @GS-ec1yh Рік тому

      But nobody cares about you

    • @anthonymcken6050
      @anthonymcken6050 Рік тому +3

      The efit of Stephen Lewis was damn near perfect.

    • @fatpinkteddy
      @fatpinkteddy 9 місяців тому

      Who was it then ?

    • @waynekieft4952
      @waynekieft4952 9 місяців тому +1

      @@fatpinkteddy the 3 original suspects!!! Look at the evidence or read the book and you can make your own mind up!

  • @shane-irish
    @shane-irish Рік тому +9

    Allison lewis had something to do with this

  • @helenarnold1861
    @helenarnold1861 3 роки тому +17

    David Morris is innocent

  • @sorryrocco
    @sorryrocco 2 роки тому +10

    Early on in the sky documentary, the neighbour across the road heard a diesel car pull up and a guy got out and went in, it never mentioned that david morris owned a car, and definitely would not have been able to drive in his condition.

    • @77oxf
      @77oxf Рік тому +1

      And even if it was him, who dropped him off? He was at the pub and supposedly walked over.

    • @chardz2007
      @chardz2007 7 місяців тому

      Welsh CID at the time drove Peugeot 306

  • @jorjaLee-Quinn
    @jorjaLee-Quinn 2 роки тому +14

    They said there was no evidence to prosecute the three BUT there is no evidence for David Morris other then a chain. WOW!

    • @bigkuriboh3814
      @bigkuriboh3814 2 роки тому +1

      There is also the sock that he used as a glove.

    • @bevhealy486
      @bevhealy486 2 роки тому +1

      Me too doubts his guilt, but why did he lie about the chain not being his ?

    • @77oxf
      @77oxf Рік тому

      @@bigkuriboh3814 No, they worded it very carefully. They said there is a greater probability it was him, than wasn't. So all this means is the DNA match was greater than 50%..... given we share 97% of our DNA with chimps, you can see the problem?

    • @admpollard4257
      @admpollard4257 Рік тому +1

      Probably lied about chan coz he new at that point police just wonted to bang sumone up,,and thay didn't find no dna on it so he cleand it with his sock in one hand pot it down and pot sock on uver hand inside out ,,this is a strange AFxxx

    • @debrathomas4556
      @debrathomas4556 Рік тому

      @@bevhealy486 Howard Florence told exactly the same lies but he didn’t have a criminal record

  • @louiseroberts8932
    @louiseroberts8932 3 роки тому +15

    What puzzles me is that why didn’t the neighbours hear anything? No shouting screaming!!?? Also how could one man do all this solo …. Wondering if more than one person could be involved? With all new evidence coming to light, seems that David Morris is innocent..

    • @jaydelee1169
      @jaydelee1169 2 роки тому

      In the book neighbours say they headed smashing ..

    • @waynekieft4952
      @waynekieft4952 2 роки тому +2

      @@jaydelee1169 You obviously didn't read the book properly!

    • @natalieann6711
      @natalieann6711 Рік тому +1

      Doesn’t seem that way, it is that way. Copper didn’t like it cos his misses wanted a woman and he couldn’t do it for her so he took it personal and murdered Mandy in cold blood and his misses helped him cover it up the Welsh Myra hindley !!! Police done it and covered it up dai morris is very much innocent only real people know 💯

  • @Girl-101
    @Girl-101 3 роки тому +12

    I no longer trust the police at all

  • @donnajones2220
    @donnajones2220 2 роки тому +5

    The chain is under the wire if it had been ripped off wouldn't it be dropped over the wire

  • @cuteotter2165
    @cuteotter2165 2 роки тому +8

    This is just terrible. How did those brothers get away with it? They're monsters and still on the loose. Sick bastards to do such a thing.

  • @danbradbury1183
    @danbradbury1183 3 роки тому +19

    18 years in jail on no form evidence I think something fishy went on in this case to do with the two brothers and the wife who was involved with Mandy

  • @jamo5510
    @jamo5510 3 роки тому +14

    RIP David Morris

    • @hefinrosser8685
      @hefinrosser8685 Рік тому

      God bless you and I hope the true killer is found ❤
      The police are a disgrace

  • @tonydoherty2190
    @tonydoherty2190 Рік тому +6

    I still think she was bathed to get rid of forensics which wouldn't surprise me if a policeman was involved in the murder if David Morris didn't do it unfortunately its to late for him but if someone else do it they need catching this was a nasty quadruple especially when two kids are murdered this case needs reinvestigated by another force and investigated properly

    • @77oxf
      @77oxf Рік тому

      Agreed. I'm sure the wishy-washy (no pun intended) psychologist can see some "ritual" but, let's be honest, you're only doing things to get rid of evidence.

  • @TheRainbowgirl1960
    @TheRainbowgirl1960 3 роки тому +10

    OMG This case is so sad.Put the real murderers behind bars.South Wales POLICE

    • @jonathansanger862
      @jonathansanger862 2 роки тому +2

      There were two worst miscarriage of justices elsewhere and that involved the West Yorkshire Police Force. One was the 1974 M62 bus bomb incident in which Judith Ward was convicted but was released in 1992. The officer in charge of the botched investigation was George Oldfield. The following year, the same force hit headlines with a similar and appalling case on Steffan Kizsko in which he spent 17 years behind bars. The officer there was Dick Holland. Not surprisingly, both Oldfield (by this time Assistant Chief Constable) and Holland would be leading hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper. As the events unfolded, the investigation turned to be ......well...as we know something about.

  • @wendyerskine6951
    @wendyerskine6951 Рік тому +7

    This is the same as the Irish Mr Green who keeps screaming into the wind that he saw Gerry McCann carrying a small limp child the same night she 'disappeared'. He still swears seeing Gerry walk down the plane steps was exactly the man who passed his family walking home in Portugal and they all saw him and noted he didn't like being seen by them.

  • @sianferrie5906
    @sianferrie5906 Рік тому +4

    Absolutely crazy that the twins were seen my loads of people and the police still pinned it on Dai Morris! No wonder people don't trust the police when shit like this happens 😡

  • @Simon-zg1zq
    @Simon-zg1zq 3 роки тому +16

    Those three are guilty as hell!! The killer waited in the house to kill Mandy and the girls. The witness saw someone going into the house AFTER the time they would have been killed. That would mean there was two people in there. Who was the driver? That's those three!!

    • @stevienico452
      @stevienico452 3 роки тому

      Correct, if you look at some of these expert analysis into this it also suggests involvement by at least a second person, and looks like they may have gone back to the house to start a bigger fire later that Night.

    • @leesmavicmoments5598
      @leesmavicmoments5598 2 роки тому +3

      You lot are just anti cop in here. the bloke was a nasty piece of work without drugs and drink.
      .have a look at what crime's he's committed . No body is capable of murder are they? Just Ask the thousands doing life for it.

    • @waynekieft4952
      @waynekieft4952 2 роки тому +1

      @@leesmavicmoments5598 I was a nasty bit of work as you put it. Does it make me a murderer !!! DOES IT FXXK !!! WAKE UP! What was his motive? He didn't have one! But there were 3 other suspects that had ulterior motives. No DNA of David's was found anywhere in that house or on the body's, yet there was unknown DNA from a male that was found in numerous places in the property and on dead matches found at the scene! You don't need to be a Sherlock Holmes to work this one out! I believe it was a very angry woman who committed these horrendous murders!!!!!! And with the help of two evil men cleaned up the scene and tried to destroy vital evidence!!!!

    • @waynekieft4952
      @waynekieft4952 2 роки тому

      Right on the nail!

    • @77oxf
      @77oxf Рік тому

      @@leesmavicmoments5598 You've clearly not watched the video, have you?

  • @TheRainbowgirl1960
    @TheRainbowgirl1960 Рік тому +3

    Why is this case dragging on, an innocent man was convicted of the crime.

  • @aacomp1
    @aacomp1 Рік тому +4

    saw the sundance doc on this case, what struck was allison saying her husband didnt know of the affair, that was total BS, everybody knew, local pub scene,rugby team, local taxi guys. i dont believe her. emotional side of the murder, knowledge of fuse box location, the blockbuster Armageddon video all points to the lewises

  • @77oxf
    @77oxf Рік тому +3

    Someone commented on another video "they" were seen having a bonfire at 5am in one of the other villages.... presumably to dispose of the evidence.

  • @27misscaz
    @27misscaz 3 роки тому +10

    Innocent
    RIP

  • @lenxiabuda8338
    @lenxiabuda8338 2 роки тому +5

    I hope the Morris family feels hopeful and somewhat reassured by the comments ppl have written.. Any1 wit any bit of sense can see who the guilty party is..

  • @neildevlin6563
    @neildevlin6563 Рік тому +4

    i feel so angry that a young inocent man is rotting in jail for somthing he never done when its so bloody obvious who done the crime i dont no how they can sleep in their beds at night SKUMBAGS YOUR DAY WILL COME😪😪😪😪

    • @paulprice7060
      @paulprice7060 Рік тому +1

      No I'm afraid Neil that Dai Morris (10000% innocent) died in Jail in August of 2021

    • @neildevlin6563
      @neildevlin6563 Рік тому +1

      @@paulprice7060 Thats not good R,I,P Dai Morris SORRY HE NEVER GOT TRUE JUSTICE THAT WE ALL DESERVE/// CHEERS PAUL

  • @karenturner7184
    @karenturner7184 Рік тому +2

    Two children murdered. Terrible

  • @truthwinsuk8056
    @truthwinsuk8056 2 роки тому +4

    Maybe an angry woman did this for some reason

  • @neilmacey84
    @neilmacey84 3 роки тому +7

    R I p dai

  • @jaded5957
    @jaded5957 Рік тому +5

    Mandy certainly got around by the sound of it.

    • @Liza-cl2gb
      @Liza-cl2gb Рік тому +3

      So what! Doesn’t warrant her murder.

    • @jaded5957
      @jaded5957 Рік тому +3

      @@Liza-cl2gb Nobody said it did, but obviously I touched a nerve with women who sleep around.

    • @Liza-cl2gb
      @Liza-cl2gb Рік тому

      @@jaded5957 imagine two murdered children, grandmother and Mother and you make such a flippant crass comment. Vile!

    • @hannahhopkinson9044
      @hannahhopkinson9044 2 місяці тому

      ​@@jaded5957 and so what if she did? That's no reason for anyone to stove her little girls heads in , not her or her mum either. What was the point you were making or was it just that 🙄

  • @ev470
    @ev470 8 місяців тому +1

    I don't ever try to be arm chair detective but when you really listen to the evidence, to me it seems clear there was AT THE LEAST enough reasonable doubt against Morris for him not to have been convicted. Yes he had a voilent past, his story didn't match up to his then girlfriend but no doubt the police would pin it on him, so I imagine you panic in that situation. It seems mad to me that a drunk guy, turned down for sex, goes on a killing spree, spends hours at the scene, is apparently forsensically aware in that state & no one happens to see him covered in blood. Yet, the copper IS seen & the alibi for him was his own wife ...who is also a suspect & conveniently his twin brother is a copper who had access to the crime scene. Wth. The handprint expert, the profiler & the motive don't point to Morris for me.

  • @ShaunLodwig1987
    @ShaunLodwig1987 2 роки тому +1

    "the killer was angry will Mandy" personal, dont forget this fact.

  • @huwinheaven
    @huwinheaven 9 днів тому

    South Wales Police should be ashamed. This case needs opening again

  • @cherienafo7676
    @cherienafo7676 8 місяців тому +1

    During this video, I never heard any 'profiling' suggestion regarding the abuse by vibrator?- now, that single act tells ME A LOT ! We are aware that vibrators are used by lesbian couples, so IF a male was angry about his wife- going off with another woman... well?? - 'he' sent a last "message" - think about that one? !!

  • @huwinheaven
    @huwinheaven 9 днів тому

    no wonder there was lots of anger. Mandys behaviour was dreadful.

  • @marypenebaker898
    @marypenebaker898 Рік тому +1

    I'm on the 4th episode of murder in the valleys. I was not aware of this crime until now. As a true crime fanatic and an American where we lock up a lot of people including children I really don't like everything the teenager from next door is offering to this documentary. She would have no knowledge of any of these details. She was much too old to be playing with an eight and a 10 year old. And in America we call that weapon rebarb. An eighth and a 10 year old child would have not the strength nor dexterity to spin rebarb like a baton. Nor would any kind of mother regardless allow their children to have those in their house because well just because. To me this girl who was obviously mentally ill or PTSD from her father or her mother is describing herself. I wouldn't be surprised if Allison and Mandy told her to take that thing outside because she was a bothersome person but they were too kind and sympathetic. This is the type of murder that that type of personality would commit. She was big. She really did a door Mandy almost obsessively. I don't buy that she was there every time these events were happening in this other family's lives.

  • @ellienicole3833
    @ellienicole3833 Рік тому +2

    jitter free my arse

  • @brendonelton
    @brendonelton Рік тому +1

    What did Mandy know, that is the question!

  • @villasoka884
    @villasoka884 Рік тому +2

    DNA on the fuse?

  • @huwinheaven
    @huwinheaven 9 днів тому

    was the ex husband ever interviewed

  • @hefinrosser8685
    @hefinrosser8685 Рік тому +1

    Please tell me andrew morris has been acquitted of this crime. My heart goes out to his family as he is clearly innocent. The police are totally corrupt! I feel for mandys family, but there is a true miscarriage of justice!!! God bless you and may you rest in peace. Hopefully the true killer will be found 🙏

  • @Luke-yy1fq
    @Luke-yy1fq 2 роки тому +1

    That women that got out of the taxi at the house around 2.....

  • @huwinheaven
    @huwinheaven 9 днів тому

    this stinks of corruption

  • @suereeves5994
    @suereeves5994 17 днів тому

    Think the sock has now been tested and it's Dai's DNA

  • @charliecharliecharliecharl8554
    @charliecharliecharliecharl8554 6 місяців тому

    When The head cop said an affair is not a motive for murder I was like you will just say anything to cover up police officers involvement e fit of the Lewis brother walking down road at night and the twin brother is the first officer on scene to murders that his brother's wife was having an affair with but apparently not relevant

  • @huwinheaven
    @huwinheaven 9 днів тому

    strikes me she brought this all on herself

  • @huwinheaven
    @huwinheaven 9 днів тому

    Mandy put it about.

  • @truthwinsuk8056
    @truthwinsuk8056 Рік тому +2

    INNOCENT

  • @gaynorcopp7383
    @gaynorcopp7383 Місяць тому

    The majority swansea knows dai Morris is innocent we believe that the police did this

  • @ericwagar8847
    @ericwagar8847 Рік тому +1

    Jitter-free? 😜

  • @jonathansanger862
    @jonathansanger862 2 роки тому +2

    Case closed..

  • @PeterBorenius
    @PeterBorenius  3 роки тому +1

    This may simply be organised crime within the police - CC Jeremy Vaughan will know ALL about it. Just the same pattern as in 1985
    The savage 1985 Swansea sex shop murder that saw two vulnerable men wrongly jailed and may never be solved
    www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/swansea-sex-shop-murder-sandra-16210390
    Sandra Phillips was found in a pool of blood in the Private Shop in Swansea more than three decades ago but her killer has never been caught
    - By Sandra Hembery 5 MAY 2019
    It was one of the most brutal murders ever to take place in Swansea.
    On June 14, 1985, sex shop manager and mother-of-four Sandra Phillips was sexually assaulted, struck about the head, and eventually strangled.
    Petrol was sprayed around the Private Shop in Dillwyn Street but it was not set alight.
    That was how the shop was found when area manager Anthony Williams called there. He arrived just before 2pm and found it closed.
    It was when he unlocked the door using spare keys and found Mrs Phillips in a pool of blood that a long-running murder inquiry began.
    An old-fashioned telephone handset, believed to have been used in the attack, and Mrs Phillips’ set of keys were missing and both have never been found.
    Despite exhaustive investigations over several years, and the wrongful conviction and jailing of two men, the brutal murder 34 years ago remains unsolved.
    The murder of Sandra Phillips may never be solvedHours after the death journalists and passers-by gathered as police began their probe.
    Among them were Wayne and Paul Darvell, two homeless brothers who lived in hostels by night and swigged on cider by day.
    The brothers were pulled in as part of the police investigation. They were well-known to the police for petty crimes but, as the questioning continued, Wayne Darvell made a series of confessions.
    He claimed he had been present at the murder and had seen his brother Paul carry it out, although Paul Darvell always maintained his innocence.
    The Darvell brothers, Paul and WayneThe Darvell brothers, Paul and Wayne (Image: Media Wales)
    The police’s case centred around Wayne’s confession - and the fact they had been seen by many people near the shop, with some reporting seeing them with a container which could have had petrol in it.
    But, despite carrying out forensic tests on the brothers’ clothes, they found no traces connecting them to what had been a frenzied attack in the blood-spattered premises.
    The brothers were, though, charged with murder. An eight-week trial followed and the pair were sentenced to life in prison on June 19, 1986, with a recommendation that Paul serve at least 20 years and Wayne 15.
    Later an investigation by BBC’s Rough Justice programme found something was not right about Wayne’s confessions.
    The scene outside the sex shop as police investigate the murderIt was the start of a major investigation (Image: Media Wales)
    He had told police he would take them to the murder weapon but no weapon was found. He showed them a charity collection box he allegedly stole from the shop but it was from a different shop. And he gave details of a St Christopher medal he said he had taken from the dead woman but she didn’t have a St Christopher.
    It turned out that Wayne was a serial confessor. His former teacher at a special school said he was forever confessing to things he hadn’t done.
    It was more than enough to cast doubt on the convictions and after spending seven years in prison the Neath brothers were released by the Court of Appeal in 1992.
    Albert Kirby, the former head of Merseyside CID who led the investigation into the death of toddler James Bulger, reviewed the case in 2002.
    An appeal on the BBC’s Crimewatch programme threw up new leads and a fresh investigation started in 2004 but was closed five years later.
    The South Wales Police team completed the recommendations made following the review but they said in 2009 that “all lines of inquiry and forensic opportunities have been exhausted”.
    Mrs Phillips was 38 when she diedMrs Phillips was 38 when she died (Image: Media Wales)
    The force apologised for the shortcomings of the original 1985 investigation but said, despite hitting a brick wall, staff remained fully committed in attempting to bring those responsible for Mrs Phillips’ murder to justice.
    Detective Superintendent Paul Burke said in 2009: “It is important to stress an investigation is never completely closed and any new information which is received will be fully investigated.”
    The two brothers wrongly accused of the heinous crime were later awarded £80,000 in compensation for the time spent in prison.
    In March 2005 Paul Darvell, then 42, was found dead at his home in what police said was a non-suspicious death.
    spokesman for South Wales Police said recently: “All historic murder cases, often referred to in the media as ‘cold cases’, are allocated to the Specialist Crime Review Unit and remain under active consideration and will be subject of re-investigation as and when new information is received or when there are advances in forensic science.