Convicted double murderer jailed for life for killing Swansea neighbour

A convicted double killer has been sentenced to life in prison with no parole for murdering his neighbour in Swansea following his release from prison.

Brian Whitelock, 57, attacked neighbour Wendy Buckney, 71, with a kitchen knife, a broken table leg and wooden shelving during a sustained assault in her own home.

The bloodstained and naked pensioner was discovered in the living room of her home in Clydach, near Swansea, on August 23rd 2022.

Cameras were allowed to film Whitelock's sentencing on Friday at Swansea Crown Court (20/12).

The court previously heard Whitelock had been jailed for life in 2001 for murder and manslaughter, and released from prison in 2018.

On November 27, Whitelock was convicted of murdering Ms Buckney by a jury who deliberated for around 30 minutes following a two-week-long trial.

Following the guilty verdict, Whitelock shouted at the jury from the dock and had to be escorted from the courtroom.

Ahead of Whitelock's outburst, Mr Justice Griffiths had asked if he wanted a barrister to represent him during the sentencing.

The defendant said: "What's the point?"

During the trial, Christopher Rees KC, prosecuting, said Whitelock had a long-standing drug addiction and history of violence.

Mr Rees said Ms Buckney must have "suffered greatly" at the hands of Whitelock before her death, having sustained multiple stab injuries, sharp force injuries and blunt force injuries.

He added: "You will also hear evidence of sexual assault upon her - whether this was done by the defendant before, during or after his attack upon her is impossible, forensically, to say."

Whitelock, of Tanycoed Road, Clydach, represented himself during the trial and told jurors he had no memory of the incident and was suffering from a brain injury at the time after he slipped over while out fishing.

Whitelock had previously been jailed in 2001 after he battered Nicholas Morgan to death with an axe handle and set fire to his body.

Whitelock's brother, Glen, who was asleep, died in the subsequent blaze.

He was released from prison in 2018 and moved in opposite Ms Buckney, who employed him to do odd jobs, including gardening.

During his closing arguments, Mr Rees described to the jury how Whitelock had gone to Ms Buckney's flat fully clothed, but the next time a neighbour saw him he was covered in blood, wearing just his pants inside out.

Jeffrey Llewelyn, a neighbour, confronted Whitelock outside Ms Buckney's house while he was kneeling on the front lawn and wiping dirt over his body, where he heard the defendant say "I've killed Wendy".

Another neighbour, Paul Jones, heard Whitelock say "I didn't realise what I was doing until I came down from the high".

The jury also heard Whitelock had previously told doctors he took "30 Polish diazepam a day" bought off the street.

A doctor who carried out a CT scan ahead of the incident believed Whitelock's confusion in the weeks before was caused by drug withdrawal, rather than his head injury.

During sentencing Mr Justice Griffiths said: "For the murder of Wendy Buckney, I sentence you to imprisonment for life."

"This a case of the most extreme gravity. I have no doubt that the seriousness of this murder is so exceptionally high that just punishment requires you to be kept in prison for the rest of your life.

"Therefore, the early release provisions will not apply and you will never be considered for parole."

In a statement, Ms Buckney's family described her as a "much loved sister and aunty".

They said: "Today's verdict brings some measure of justice for Wendy, who was taken from us far too soon.

"While nothing can bring her back, we are grateful that the truth has been heard.

"Wendy was a very much loved sister and aunty whose kindness, laughter and spirit touched the lives of so many.

"Our lives will never be the same without her, but we will continue to honour her memory every day.

"This has been a painful and heartbreaking journey for our family.

"We thank everyone who has supported us during this incredibly difficult time and we ask for privacy as we continue to grieve and heal in the wake of this tragedy."

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