Clifford Foster, 61, appeared at Newport Magistrates’ Court on Friday charged with the murder of Eleanor Barnfield. He spoke only to confirm his name, age and address, and was remanded in custody to appear at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday 26 October.
Ms Barnfield, 47, a mother of two who worked for the housing association Valleys to Coast, died in hospital after her car hit a wall on Coity Road on Monday 19 October. Officers found she had “puncture wounds unrelated to the collision”, South Wales Police said.
No 999 calls found from her phone numbers, ambulance service says
Some reports had claimed Ms Barnfield crashed while driving herself to hospital.
The Welsh Ambulance Service said on Thursday that its initial investigations had been “unable to identify” any calls from her phone numbers. “Enquiries are ongoing to establish if any calls were received by other means,” it said.
The service had already rejected social media rumours of a delayed response, saying a rapid response car reached the scene seven minutes after the 999 call.
Ger-y-Nant: the sheltered housing scheme at the centre of Monday night’s police operation
Ger-y-Nant, where police carried out an overnight operation and arrested a man on Tuesday, is a Valleys to Coast sheltered housing scheme with 13 flats for people aged 60 and over. Residents who were evacuated have since returned, a neighbour said.
Foster had been staying at a nearby hostel run by the homelessness charity The Wallich, the Daily Mail reported. He previously worked as a plasterer, the paper said.
The senior investigating officer, Claire Lamerton, said: “This is not being investigated as a domestic incident, and I encourage the public to not speculate about the circumstances as court proceedings are now active.”
‘She was our rock’: family and colleagues pay tribute to Eleanor Barnfield
In a tribute released through police on Wednesday, her family described her as “the kindest, most loving, bravest person in the world”.
They said: “She meant everything to us and will be forever loved and missed deeply by her devoted family and friends. She was our rock.”
Jo Oak, the housing association’s chief executive, said: “We are devastated by the tragic death of our colleague, Eleanor Barnfield.”
She added: “Eleanor was a much-valued member of the Valleys to Coast team, and her loss has been deeply felt by everyone who knew and worked alongside her.”
The association said it was co-operating fully with South Wales Police and, out of respect for her family and the investigation, would not comment further on the circumstances of her death.
Ms Lamerton said: “My thoughts remain with Eleanor’s loved ones at such a devastating time, and they continue to be supported by specialist officers.”
Flowers have been left at the wall on Coity Road where her car came to rest.
Anyone with information is asked to contact South Wales Police through its website, quoting reference 2600342470.
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