HAYLEY MURDER TRIAL: THE family of murdered Hayley Richards said she became quieter and lost her bubbly personality as her relationship with Hugo Quintas developed.

Her mother Christina Richards told Bristol Crown Court on Monday that at the beginning of the relationship she had accepted Quintas into the family but he later tried to control her daughter.

She said: "Hayley told me she'd met a friend and that he was Portuguese. It didn't bother us whatsoever, it didn't matter what nationality he was. "We accepted him into our family and he started appearing at social events."

She said at first the couple seemed to be getting on very well, but as time passed the relationship soured and her daughter's personality began to change. "He wanted to be in control of Hayley. "She quietened down a lot and wasn't her bubbly self," she said.

Mrs Richards told the court of an incident on New Year's Eve when Quintas arrived at her daughter's flat. She said: "Quintas came into her flat and said I didn't know you were having a party.' It was not a party, just myself, my other daughter and a friend and two grandchildren. "He stormed off into the bedroom. She went in after him then he marched off down the stairs. "She came out crying and holding her wrists. She had red marks where her bracelets were."

Miss Richards' brother Paul told the court he had believed his sister and Quintas had a good relationship until he overheard a row between the couple. He said Quintas had told his sister that when the baby was born she should stay home and look after it while he went out to work.

Prosecutor Mark Evans QC asked if Miss Richards had plans to maintain her career to which Mr Richards replied, "yes". The court also heard evidence from Miss Richards' sisters Samantha Richards and Tina Tucker.

Mr Evans asked each family member if they had ever seen two Stanley-type craft knives in Miss Richards' flat. Each said they had visited the flat on many occasions but had no recollection of ever seeing the knives.

  • The trial continues