Teenager admits murdering midwife

A homeless teenager pleaded guilty today to murdering a retired midwife who had put him up for the night.

David Matthews inflicted multiple serious injuries on 58-year-old grandmother Susan Williams at her home in Mill Road, Caerphilly, South Wales, during the early hours of 28 February this year.

The 18-year-old, who also lived in the Caerphilly area, admitted murder during a brief hearing at Newport Crown Court today which was attended by a large gathering of Mrs Williams' family.

The Recorder of Cardiff, Judge Nicholas Cooke QC, adjourned sentencing until Friday 11 September. In the meantime, Matthews was remanded in custody.

After the hearing, Detective Superintendent Geoff Ronayne, of Gwent Police, said it was still not clear what happened on the night of the murder due to Matthews' reluctance to talk about it.

He said the teenager had been living rough for a few nights after an argument with his girlfriend. He had been introduced to Mrs Jones, who the detective said had a "tremendous standing in the community" and was known to help people in a similar position.

"We know Matthews was taken to the address and she was likely to have put him up for the night and he repaid her by trying to steal property from the house and she disturbed him," said Mr Ronayne.

"We're still not sure why it happened but we do know that he carried out quite an horrific attack and he needed to be brought to book quite quickly."

He added: "I'm obviously extremely pleased for the family that they haven't had to go through the ordeal of a trial.

"It is the right result and I think they are pleased they are at the end of a harrowing experience and they can start to move on."

After the hearing, Mrs Williams' relatives declined to comment.