Avola Humphreys denies killing one resident and abusing four others

Avola Humphreys, 61, is accused of killing William Pettener, 95, who was originally from Lancashire, at Bodawen Nursing Home in north Wales.

During the eight months up to May last year that she worked at the home in Tremadog, she is accused of abusing and mistreating four other residents.

Ms Humphreys of Dolgellau, denies seven charges of assault and manslaughter.

Retired engineer Mr Pettener, orginally from Ormskirk in Lancashire, died at the nursing home on 12 April.

A care assistant at the home witnesssed the pensioner's death

Peter Hughes, prosecuting, said events leading up to his death had been witnessed by a care assistant.

"What she had seen was Avola Humphreys forcing food down Mr Pettener's throat until he coughed, choked and could not breathe any more," he told the court.

"There are two times in our lives when we are at our most vulnerable.

"The first is when we come into the world, and the second is towards the end of our lives in old age.

'Lacking in patience'

"At these times we are dependant on the care of others. For some of us in old age, it means giving up independent living and entering a residential home."

He added: "The defendant describes herself as a loud person with a tendency to shout at people, but sympathetic and caring.

"To some of the elderly residents she may have been just that, but we say that the picture that will emerge from the evidence as it unfolds is of a woman with a quick temper, someone with a short fuse, lacking in patience, and someone who was anything but caring to certain residents, who would pick on them and behave abusively towards them."