Riding school boss gave double killer second chance after release from prison – but he sexually assaulted, tortured and murdered her, trial claims

A riding school principal who gave a double killer a second chance after his release from prison was sexually assaulted, tortured and murdered by the 56-year-old, a court has heard.

Wendy Buckney, 71, was “brutally” killed by Brian Whitelock in a horrific attack using a knife, a table leg and a wooden shelf on August 23, 2022.

Swansea Crown Court heard the retired riding school owner had wanted to help the killer after he was released from prison, having spent 18 years behind bars for murder and manslaughter.

Whitelock moved in opposite Ms Buckney in Clydach, Swansea, after his early release from prison and she would employ him to do odd jobs around her house – after telling her sister that “everyone deserves a second chance”.

But after carrying out the attack, which also saw him sexually assault the kind-hearted rider, Whitelock was seen leaving Ms Buckney’s home the following morning, wearing only a pair of inside-out boxer shorts and covered in blood .

The court heard how he told residents: “I killed Wendy. I don’t know why, she was nice to me.

Whitelock admits manslaughter, but denies murdering Mrs Buckney, saying he was acting out of character due to a brain injury.

However, prosecutor Christopher Rees KC said his previous convictions for the murder of two men in 2001 showed he had a “propensity to use explosive and disproportionate violence” and that there were similarities between the crimes.

A post-mortem found ‘vulnerable’ Ms Buckney – who suffered mobility problems – had ‘too many’ injuries for pathologists to count and flesh from her body was found on the walls and ceiling after the horror attack.

Whitelock was found guilty of murdering his friend Nicky Morgan, 27, after beating him to death with a hammer and of manslaughtering his own brother Glenn in a fire while trying to destroy evidence of the murder.

Mr Rees said that after being arrested for Ms Buckney’s death in August 2022, Whitelock said: “I will not serve another life sentence.”

The court heard how Ms Buckney was murdered by “someone she knew and trusted to allow her into her home”.

Mr Rees said: “This is also a man who the prosecution allege has a long-standing drug problem and, significantly, a history of violence and who has attempted to deflect blame and responsibility for his actions.”

He said Ms Buckney “must have suffered greatly” before her death with “multiple stab wounds, sharp force injuries and blunt force injuries inflicted on her – too many for pathologist Dr Leadbeater who examined his body to be able to count it truly and accurately.

The court heard there was blood on his flat and pieces of flesh on his walls and ceiling and pieces of an MDF wooden shelf embedded in his shins.

Mr Rees said: “The defendant, upon arrest, admitted that he had not only murdered her but tortured her with various objects.”

He told the officer: “It looks like I tortured her, I literally did. She was begging me to stop.

But in the days that followed, Whitelock changed his story to say he found Ms Buckney injured, went to help her and saw “dark figures” outside her apartment .

The court heard he admitted manslaughter with diminished responsibility in May this year, claiming a brain injury was to blame for his actions, having suffered a fall and a fractured skull in the previous days.

Mrs Buckney founded the much-loved Pen-Y-Fedw Equestrian Center and Livery Yard and continued to keep horses after moving into her new home.

Mr Rees said although she had no children, Ms Buckney was much loved by her 16 nieces and nephews and two adult stepchildren and taught hundreds of children to ride horses.

Mr Rees said Whitelock moved in opposite her and she employed him to do odd jobs despite warnings from her family.

He said: “Mrs Buckney had told her sister, Mr Whitelock, her neighbour, that she was helping him do odd jobs and she was paying him to do odd jobs around her flat.

“His sister expressed her concerns about this because Ms. Buckney told her that the defendant had been in prison in the past but did not know why, but in Ms. Buckney’s words, as she said: Everyone deserves a second chance.”

Mr Rees told the jury Whitelock’s previous convictions would help them understand “the nature of the man you are dealing with”.

Describing the previous murders, Mr Rees said: ‘Following an argument fueled by drugs and drinks, the defendant repeatedly struck Nicholas Morgan in the face with a weapon – a pickaxe handle or hammer – causing his death .

“He left the scene and bought a jerry can of petrol from a nearby garage and returned to the address to set it on fire. He poured petrol over Mr Morgan’s body and into others parts of the property before setting it on fire.

“The defendant’s brother, Glenn Whitelock, was sleeping upstairs when the fire broke out. He died of smoke inhalation.

Mr Rees said there were “significant similarities” between Ms Buckley’s murder and the previous murder and manslaughter.

He said: “In both cases a weapon was used to kill with repeated blows and both victims suffered serious facial injuries.

“In both cases, explosive and disproportionate violence was used without any obvious motive; in both cases, the murder scene was significantly damaged after the death.

“In both cases, the victims were killed early in the morning and there was confidence that they were there. In both cases, the defendant was under the influence of drugs.

“In both cases he was said to have been mumbling and incoherent afterwards – significantly, he did not blame any head injuries in 2001.”

Whitelock, of Clydach, near Swansea, is representing himself and has pleaded not guilty to Ms Buckney’s murder but admits manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility.

The trial, before Judge Griffiths, continues.