New inquest hope for siblings found dead in farmhouse 50 years ago

Relatives trying to clear the name of an elderly brother posthumously accused of murdering his sister in their farmhouse nearly 50 years ago are hoping for a new inquest into the deaths after meeting a senior coroner.

The bodies of Martha and Griff Thomas were found at Ffynnon Samson farmhouse in Llangolman, Pembrokeshire in 1976, initially prompting a double murder investigation.

An inquest in 1977 found Martha Thomas, who was 70, was unlawfully killed, while an open verdict was returned for Griff Thomas, who was 73.

Campaigners called for the case to be reopened and Dyfed-Powys Police began re-examining the deaths in 2022. They said the forensic review was nearing an end last year.

It is understood that no significant discoveries were made by the review, named Operation Hallam, despite "a significant amount of complex work".

After initially treating the siblings' deaths as a double murder, the lead investigator, Pat Malloy, decided in January 1977 that Griff had "probably" killed his sister, possibly by hitting her over the head with a kitchen chair before starting a fire in which he lay down and died.

Relatives and friends who knew the two chapel-going siblings have never accepted that explanation and believe they were both murdered by an intruder.

Family members met Gareth Lewis, senior coroner for Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire, and police officers in Haverfordwest on Tuesday to discuss the next steps in the case.

Relative Huw Gibby told Newyddion S4C the two-and-a-half hour meeting went "very well", saying the coroner was "helpful" and "listened to what we had to say".

"The coroner has looked at all the police evidence," he said.

"He's looked at what the experts who were appointed by the police have said.

"He said that he was erring towards reopening the case as a coronial matter, and also after hearing our evidence as family member, he more or less said that he was even more convinced that he should open it, which was very pleasing, from our point of view."

Lewis said he was unable to comment publicly due "ongoing investigations and legal processes".

Another relative campaigning to clear Griff's name, Anne Gibby, called the meeting "good news" for the family.

"Although there isn't much new forensic evidence, they have been given a lot of information to make them consider that they need to reopen the inquest," she said.

"The priority for us to secure justice for Griff and clear his name."

In a statement, Dyfed Powys Police said the coroner had "invited the family to provide written submissions setting out why fresh inquests should be sought into the deaths".

Any application for a fresh inquest will need the consent of the Attorney General and will be determined by the High Court.

It will be exactly 50 years this December since the siblings were found dead at the family home.

Huw Absalom, who is related to the siblings, was 15 when they died.

He previously told Newyddion S4C he was grateful to police for re-examining the case, but claimed he had not been told how Operation Hallam was progressing.

"They've said that they'll keep in touch, and they haven't. That's disappointing," he said.

"I don't expect a day-by-day update, but something would have been nice. It wouldn't do any harm to have a close family meeting and get our viewpoint across.

"They haven't talked to us about how we feel or what information we could give the investigation."

Absalom said family members had not been told what items police were examining and the true scope of the review.

He said: "Nothing. Zero. I know some 150 items were taken from the house at the time. I have heard a lot of the items have gone missing.

"I don't know how many they've got left or what they're testing or nothing."

He said he will continue to campaign.

"They lived a happy, quiet life in Llangolman," he said.

"They were simple little farmers and lived a simple life."

Two forensic experts, who looked at the case recently for S4C's Byd ar Bedwar programme, said there was reason to believe another person may have been involved in the deaths.

Hefin Wyn, editor of community newspaper Clebran, has campaigned for the case to be reopened. He says he is "frustrated" that the review is still ongoing.

"I do believe enough information has come forward to prove that the evidence at the time was not strong enough to suggest Griff had actually killed his sister," he said.

"The inquest should be reopened and Griff should be pardoned. He had no reason to kill his sister. He's an innocent man.

"The people of Llangolman want to know that he was officially innocent."

The new Chief Constable of Dyfed Powys Police, Ifan Charles, said police had worked "exceptionally hard to understand all the circumstances of this tragic incident".

"It's important that we conduct the review thoroughly so that we're getting the right answers for the family and the community," he said.

"I understand there are concerns around the police response and around the circumstances of the deaths.

"What I think is important is that we allow the investigation and the forensic inquiry to continue and then we'll be in a position to continue to consult with the coroner and decide on the next steps."