A MURDER trial jury was yesterday told to treat evidence from twins with caution.
Judge Patrick Eccles made the comments when summing up at the end of the five-week-long trial at Oxford Crown Court.
Homeless Denis Witney, left, was beaten to death at a house in St Clement’s Street, Oxford, last November.
Daniel McCollin, 30, his girlfriend Joanne Moriarty, 29, and Wayne Cattell, 37, all deny murder. McCollin and Moriarty blame Cattell for the killing but Cattell and his girlfriend Diane Hayes blame the other couple.
Diane’s twin sister Katey was also in the house at the time and was also a witness. Earlier in the trial she said she did not see an assault, but later told the jury she had seen blood on McCollin’s hands.
Judge Eccles said yesterday: “Diane Hayes has been Wayne Cattell’s girlfriend for about eight years. It is plain she has affection for him and remains loyal to him.”
He also said as the twins were close, Katey’s evidence should also be treated with caution.
The jury is due to consider its verdict early next week.
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