Man found on footpath covered in blood - court.

Byline: liz day Reporter [email protected]

THE partner of a man found dying on a footpath after being knifed said she learned of his death when a friend banged on her front door, a murder trial has heard.

Maria Dwyer told a jury she phoned the police after becoming concerned when boyfriend Anthony Winter did not return to their Cardiff home last November.

The 32-year-old dad was found "covered in blood" and lying in the middle of a footpath by a passing walker, the trial was told.

Prosecutors allege Mr Winter was badly beaten in a flat before being taken to a wooded area, where he was knifed through an artery.

Mr Winter was found lying in a pool of blood near Brookfield Drive in St Mellons just before 7.15am on Thursday, November 22, last year.

Yesterday, Cardiff Crown Court - where three people deny murder - heard evidence from Ms Dwyer, who had been in a relationship with Mr Winter for six years.

The couple lived together in Chapel Wood, Llanedeyrn, the court heard.

She told the court at the time of his death Mr Winter was owed around PS1,000 in benefit payments.

When he opened the case last week, prosecutor Christopher Clee QC said drug addict Mr Winter was lured to a flat in Newport on November 21.

Mr Clee said Mr Winter was "tortured" over debts he owed to his suppliers, which were said to be around PS500.

Ms Dwyer told the court her partner left their flat and went to Munnings Drive in Newport on November 21 and said of the day: "Nothing was out of the ordinary."

She subsequently rang 101 in the early hours of November 22 when she became "really worried" about him not returning, adding: "I was literally waiting all night for him to come home."

Mr Clee later asked: "When was it you found out that Anthony had been found in the woods?" Ms Dwyer replied: "When my friend was banging at my door.

"That's when I realised I had 49 missed calls. The police were trying to get hold of me as well."

John Phillips, 28, from Baird Close in Newport, a 17-year-old girl from Trowbridge, and a 17-year-old boy from Llanedeyrn deny murder. The two teenagers cannot be named for legal reasons.

The jury heard another teenager, 19-year-old Christopher James Jones, of Bedwas Close, has admitted murder, while Lauren Hutchinson, of Munnings Drive in Newport, has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice.

She and the 17-year-old girl, who also admits perverting the course of justice, cleaned up Hutchinson's flat to "hide the evidence" of the "ferocious beating" Mr Winter took there, said Mr Clee.

The trial, which is before Mrs Justice Jefford and is due to last for four weeks, continues.

Anthony Winter

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Anthony Winter