A CLINICAL psychologist has concluded that Peter Morgan, who is standing trial accused of murdering his lover Georgina Symonds, has Asperger’s syndrome.

Morgan, 54, of Llanellen Court Farm, Llanellen, is charged with murdering the 25-year-old mother-of-one, on January 12 at Pencoed Castle Bungalow, where she was living at the time.

Although he has admitted to the unlawful killing of Miss Symonds, Morgan denies murder citing diminished responsibility due to Asperger’s Syndrome - a type of autism.

Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, a director at the Autism Research Centre at Cambridge University, and with 30 years’ of experience in the field of autism, gave evidence at Newport Crown Court yesterday.

Answering questions from William Hughes QC, prosecuting counsel, Prof Baron-Cohen told the court that the tests that Morgan completed are not diagnostic.

“It is suggested. These tests are not diagnostic,” said the professor, referring to three assessments he made of Morgan. “A higher score means it is more likely.”

The court heard that millionaire Morgan worked within the family business until the age of 31, before starting his own business at 33, and eventually moving into property much later.

Prof Baron-Cohen added that Morgan had learnt a number of “rules” linked to empathy, a trait which he feels that people with Asperger’s and autism can struggle with.

However, he felt that Morgan’s actions were not “consistent” with that of the majority of people with Asperger’s syndrome, and it would be unfair to suggest that all people with the condition are capable of similar actions.

“The important message is that this decision and the autistic way of thinking does not necessarily lead to the behaviour that we are looking at,” he said.

Proceeding.