Avola Humphreys denies all charges against her

A jury at Caernarfon Crown Court was played a video recording of an interview with Michael Thomas.

Avola Humphreys, 61, of Dolgellau, Gwynedd, is charged with killing 94-year-old William Pettener.

She denies manslaughter, as well as seven charges of assault.

An interview with former cinema projectionist Mr Thomas - among residents at the home who claims they were assaulted - took place at his bedside in the Bodawen nursing home in Porthmadog.

In his statement, Mr Thomas told the hearing that the matron had pushed him, at one time causing him to hit his head.

The pensioner, whose hands could be seen shaking, claimed Ms Humphreys used to tell him to keep his hands still and that if he did not alter his ways, she would send him away to be locked up.

On Monday, Mr Thomas was taken to court for cross-examination via a video-link.

Thomas Teague QC, defending, suggested the alleged assaults never happened. Mr Thomas disagreed.

Asked why he had not told anyone about the alleged assaults, he replied: "I didn't want to get anyone into trouble."

So far during the trial, which began last Monday, former colleagues of Ms Humphreys have also given evidence.

Elizabeth Watson, who has worked at the Bodawen home for 10 years, told the jury how 86-year-old Alzheimer's sufferer Eric Cartwright had fallen victim to the matron when he wanted to use the toilet.

She said Ms Humphreys refused to let him go and ordered Mr Cartwright to sit in his chair. The matron, she alleged, pushed the pensioner who fell to the floor and every time he tried to crawl away, she would pull him back by his hair.

Mrs Watson said Ms Humphreys then dragged him across the sun lounge by his dressing gown.

In another alleged incident involving Mr Cartwright, the jury was told that he had become distressed when told by Ms Humphreys that he could not go to the toilet.

He was so desperate, she added, that he wet himself and, again, Ms Humphreys shouted at him.

Other former staff members told the hearing how they thought she had tied other residents to their chairs and cut a woman's lip when she forced a spoonful of food into her mouth.

The jury also heard allegations that William Pettener, 94, choked after food was forced down his throat by Ms Humphreys.

It was also alleged that she assaulted four other residents - Mr Thomas, Eric Cartwright, 86, Mary Wilson, 96, and Gwen Evans, 87.