Woman 'murdered over Facebook time'

Woman 'murdered over Facebook time' Brian Lewis is accused of strangling his partner Hayley Jones to death at the home they shared with their four children.

The defendant fled the scene during the early hours of March 12 of this year and drove to a police station, leaving his kids to find their mother's body in the living room, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

Lewis, 31, of Pritchard Terrace, Phillipstown, New Tredegar, south Wales, denies murder.

The jury heard cracks began to appear in the couple's relationship due to financial problems after he lost his job. As a result, the 26-year-old mother found work as a care assistant having previously stayed at home to look after their children.

Prosecutor Mark Evans QC said: "Hayley had at the same time started to expand her social horizons.

"She had began spending a lot of time on the internet chat site Facebook. Brian Lewis was to state in interview and to other people that she had been quite secretive about this.

"For example, preventing him from accessing the site and switching the computer off to prevent him from seeing any of the content. It is quite clear from the evidence, you will hear, this rankled with him."

Mr Evans said the relationship between the accused and Ms Jones deteriorated to such an extent that she changed her Facebook status to "single" on March 2 of this year, just over a week before her death. The prosecutor added: "It is quite clear that Brian Lewis became quite anxious and suspicious of her internet activity."

The trial continues.