The jury in the Clydach murder trial have been shown police video tapes of interviews with the man accused of the killings.

Three days of the trial at Swansea Crown Court have been taken up with clips from recordings made with David Morris, following his arrest in connection with the deaths of Mandy Power, her children, and her elderly mother.

Forensic experts found a bath of blood

Mrs Power, daughters Katie and Emily, and her 80-year-old mother, Doris Dawson, were found dead at their home in Kelvin Road in June 1999, following what was described in court as a "massacre".

Forty-year-old Mr Morris, of Craig cefn parc near Clydach, has denied being responsible for the murders.

Monday's hearing concentrated on interviews held during Mr Morris's third day in custody.

Detectives were heard asking him why he put his clothes in his washing machine after getting home at 0400BST the morning after the killings.

Argument

He said it was simply because they were soaking wet.

He also described how his relationship with his girlfriend - one of Mrs Power's best friends - was very volatile, and how he slapped Mrs Power during an argument one night.

Investigations have centred on a blood-soaked gold chain, which the prosecution allege belonged to Mr Morris.

Morris denied it was his chain, and claimed he had seen it on a windowsill at Mrs Power's house some four weeks before her death.

He said she had told him it was from an admirer.

Detectives said he had been the only person in their 21-month-long inquiry who had ever mentioned seeing the chain.

The case continues.