Brian Whitelock Jailed for Life for Murdering Wendy Buckney
A man with a violent past, Brian Whitelock, 57, has been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of murdering his neighbour, Wendy Buckney, 71, in August 2022. Whitelock’s brutal attack left Ms. Buckney dead, naked, and bloodied in her living room in Clydach, Swansea.
Whitelock’s history of violence includes a 2001 conviction for the murder of Nicholas “Nicky” Morgan and the manslaughter of his own brother, Glen Whitelock. He killed Morgan with an axe handle and set fire to his body, which also led to the death of his brother in the subsequent blaze. He received a life sentence with a minimum of 18 years in prison, but was released in 2018. After being convicted of assaulting a shop worker, he was briefly returned to prison but later released again.
Whitelock moved in across from Ms. Buckney and did odd jobs for her, including gardening. On August 23, 2022, he attacked her with a kitchen knife, broken table leg, and wooden shelving. At trial, Whitelock pleaded guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility, but denied murder. The jury found him guilty in less than 30 minutes.
During the sentencing, prosecutor Christopher Rees KC described the attack as one in which Ms. Buckney “must have suffered greatly,” with the murder displaying disturbing similarities to Whitelock’s earlier crimes, including a lack of clear motive. Evidence suggested there were additional sinister elements to the crime, as Ms. Buckney had been stripped naked. It remains unclear whether these actions occurred before or after her death.
Ms. Buckney’s family expressed the deep trauma caused by her death. Her sister Anne described Wendy as “lovely” and “caring,” and stated that the way she was killed would “never be understood or accepted.” The family called for justice, saying Whitelock had “robbed” them of their sister and aunt.
Whitelock will never be considered for parole following his sentencing, ensuring he will spend the rest of his life in prison for his horrific crime.
