New arrests over Clydach murders
Crime Thread
New arrests over Clydach murders
Three generations of the same family were killed
Police investigating the murders of four members of the same family at
Clydach in the Swansea Valley have arrested two people.
David Morris, 38, from the nearby village of Craig Cefn Parc, has not
been investigated before in the long running inquiry.
House of 38-year-old David Morris.
South Wales Police also confirmed that officers had arrested a
32-year-old woman on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of
justice in relation to the case.
Mr Morris has been taken to a police station somewhere in south Wales
where he is being questioned on suspicion of the murders of 80-year-old
Doris Dawson, her daughter Mandy Power, 34, and young granddaughters
Katie and Emily Power.
All four were beaten to death at their home in Kelvin Road in Clydach in
June 1999.
The murder weapon - a four-foot long metal pole - was found nearby.
The killer then tried to set fire to the house and party succeeded.
Police are appealing for anyone with any information about the deaths to
contact them.
"It is vital that anyone who has any information and has not yet come
forward to us, gets in touch with the incident room staff now," said
Detective Superintendent Martyn Lloyd-Evans, who is leading the
investigation.
The house where the murders took place
There have been arrests in the inquiry before but no-one has been
brought to court for the murders.
Last month detectives confirmed that they were not bringing charges
against a second police officer arrested in connection with the Clydach
murder inquiry.
Inspector Stuart Lewis, 38, was arrested on suspicion of conspiring to
pervert the course of justice in connection with the murders.
Mr Lewis's twin brother Sergeant Stephen Lewis and sister-in-law Alison
Lewis - a former police officer - were arrested on suspicion of murder
but they were released without charge in January.
Both twin brothers continue to be suspended from duty.
They are now believed to be seeking legal advice on whether to make a
formal complaint to the Police Complaints Authority on their continued
work suspension.
Alison Lewis has called for a public inquiry
Alison Lewis, 33, has called for a public inquiry into the handling of
the investigation.
She has alleged that the police became side-tracked by the fact that she
and Ms Power were lovers.
The murder hunt has so far cost £2m and a team of 50 officers has worked
around the clock to catch the killers.
Police officers - who have featured the case several times on BBC's
Crimewatch UK programme - have taken have taken more than 1,430
statements and interviewed more than 2,000 people.
A panel of lay advisors has also been called in to help solve the case.
It was the first time that South Wales Police had taken such an unusual
step during a live investigation.
Lynn Smith
Do you have any more on this case? This one is confusing.-Lynn
Peter Dostal
Lynn Smith wrote:
>
> Do you have any more on this case? This one is confusing.-Lynn
>
Woman arrested over quadruple murder case
March 20, 2001
A woman has been arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice in
the second development connected to the murder of three generations of one
family.
A South Wales Police spokesman said a 32-year-old woman had been arrested in
the Swansea Valley quadruple murder case.
Detectives earlier arrested a 38-year-old man on suspicion of murdering the
family of four. He remains in police custody.
Grandmother Dorris Dawson, 80, her daughter Mandy Power, 34, and
grandchildren Katie, 10, and Emily, eight, were bludgeoned to death in the
Clydach home 21 months ago.
Detective Superintendent Martyn Lloyd-Evans, who is leading the
investigation, renewed his appeal for witnesses to come forward.
"It is vital that anyone who has any information and has not yet come forward
to us, gets in touch with the incident room staff now," he said.
The latest developments follow the arrest nine months ago of two South Wales
police officers for the murder.
Stephen Lewis, 38, and his estranged former police officer wife, Alison, 33,
were each arrested on suspicion of the murders. Mrs Lewis, who now lives in
the Rhondda Valley with her two children, was known to have had a lesbian
affair with the murdered Mandy Power.
Inspector Stuart Lewis, 38, the twin brother of Stephen, was also arrested on
suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. All three were
released on police bail after being held for almost four days without charge.
Two months ago the Lewis brothers were released from police bail but continue
Lynn Smith
Peter Dostal
Here is an article from October 6, 2000. Sounds similar to the recent article.
The link has pictures:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/wales/newsid_959000/959861.stm
Bail extended for Clydach suspects
The family's bodies were discovered in their home South Wales Police have extended
bail for three suspects in the Clydach murder case.
A 38-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of the murder of
three generations of the same family have had their bail extended until December.
A 38-year-old man arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of
justice, has also had a bail extension until December.
"This decision has been taken because a great deal of information has been coming
into the incident room which the team are currently working through.
Detective Superintendent Martyn Lloyd-Evans, who is leading the enquiry, has
appealed for anyone with information to the incident room on 01792 562 731, or
Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The bodies of Doris Power, 80, her daughter, Amanda, 34, and Amanda's two
daughters Katy, 10, and Emily, eight, were all found at their semi-detached home
in Clydach, near Swansea in June 1999.
They had been beaten to death.
The inquiry surrounding the murders is the biggest murder hunt in the history of
South Wales police.
In the immediate aftermath, a team of 60 detectives were involved in the hunt for
the killer.
Crimewatch feature
They also announced a reward of £30,000 for information leading to the arrest and
conviction of the murderer.
Police have taken more than 1,430 statements, visited almost 990 houses, spoken to
nearly 2,200 people and received more than 930 messages.
Officers have conducted interviews with more than 3,400 people, and the case has
also been featured on BBC's Crimewatch programme.
Officers launched a renewed appeal for information on the anniversary of the
murders.
The team of detectives has staged reconstructions of events leading up to the
murders, issued e-fit descriptions on the internet, has consulted the FBI and has
also held a conference of detectives to aid the case.
Peter Dostal
Here is the original BBC story from June 28, 1999:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_379000/379978.stm
Killer battered family to death
The two sisters were killed with their mother and grandmother
Detectives investigating the murders of four members of the same family have revealed
that they were all beaten to death.
The bodies of Doris Power, 80, her daughter, Amanda, 34, and Amanda's two daughters
Katy, 10, and Emily, eight, were all found at their semi-detached home in Clydach,
near Swansea, in south-west Wales.
Police believe they may have been murdered with the same weapon.
A team of 60 detectives is making inquiries into Amanda's background after it was
discovered she had both male and female sexual relationships since divorcing her
husband, Michael, two years ago.
Detective Superintendent Martin Lloyd-Evans said there was no sign of forced entry at
the family's home, which had been set ablaze by the killer.
"There is nothing to suggest that more than one person was involved in this dreadful
act," he said.
Firefighters discovered the bodies early on Sunday morning when they were called to
the house.
Detective Superintendent Lloyd-Evans, heading what is believed to be Wales's
biggest-ever murder case, said: "Whoever has done this would be bloodstained and
after the crime they have gone home somewhere."
Shouts in the dark
One neighbour said she heard shouts coming from the house shortly before the
emergency services arrived at 0430BST.
Mr Lloyd-Evans said Amanda and her two children were last seen at about 0030BST on
Sunday when they returned to the house after babysitting for a friend.
"Shortly after 4am a neighbour was looking out his window and saw smoke coming from
the house.
"He went to the house and tried to gain entry but he could not and called the fire
brigade.
"They forced their way into the house and found a fire in the ground floor rooms.
"They then went upstairs with the use of breathing apparatus and a search revealed
four bodies.
Motive for killing sought
"There must be a motive for this dreadful incident. It is important that we get to
the bottom of this as soon as possible."
Forensic scientists conducted a fingertip search around the family's semi-detached
home on Sunday. The front of the house was screened off with plastic sheeting.
Residents in and around the murder scene describe the family as "lovely people".
Schoolgirl Lisa Sullivan, 15, babysat for the two girls and said that Amanda Power
"lived for them".
On Monday morning, a special assembly was held at the sisters' school, Craig Cefn
Parc Primary, as part of a continuing effort to comfort a community in disbelief.
Head teacher Jean Healey addressed pupils during a special service.
Speaking before the assembly, she said: "They are going to be coping with their grief
because the two little girls were very well known and had lots of friend here. They
will be very sorely missed."