Man, 61, appears in court accused of murdering housing officer, 47, found stabbed in crashed car as she tried to drive to hospital
Clifford Foster, 61, has appeared in court charged with murdering Eleanor Barnfield, a 47-year-old housing officer who was attacked at work in Bridgend. Barnfield drove a short distance before crashing into a wall and later died in hospital; the case matters as court proceedings are now under way.
The attack reportedly took place at Ger-Y-Nant sheltered accommodation, which has 13 social housing flats for people over 60. Emergency crews found puncture wounds unrelated to the crash, while police evacuated residents during an armed response after a man barricaded himself in a room. Foster was remanded in custody and is due at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday; police say the case is not being treated as a domestic incident.
In short
- Clifford Foster appeared in court charged with murder.
- Eleanor Barnfield died after an attack in Bridgend.
- Foster was remanded in custody pending a Crown Court hearing.
Explained simply
Sheltered accommodation provides homes with some support for older people, while housing officers help manage residents’ homes and deal with housing issues. Ger-Y-Nant in Bridgend has 13 flats for people over 60.
The case concerns an alleged attack at the accommodation and the death of Eleanor Barnfield, who worked there as a housing officer. Police have said they are not treating it as a domestic incident.
Court proceedings will establish how the case is handled and allow the allegations to be examined. A charge is an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless found guilty.