Richard Jones, 50, jailed for life, minimum 20 years, for murdering Sophie Evans, 30, at her Llanelli home.
Jones killed Sophie Evans, aged 30, in her house in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire. He beat and strangled her. Police found her body on July 5th. Ms. Evans was a mother of two children.
Ms. Evans returned home after dropping off her children. Jones arrived at her house then. After killing her, Jones left the property and ran various errands, including ordering a new debit card and buying a custard slice and sandwich.
Later, Jones contacted his ex-partner and told her he had “sorted” a problem concerning Ms. Evans, his son’s girlfriend. He said he had “erased” it fully.
Jones believed he had been tricked into signing a tenancy agreement for Ms. Evans’s home, according to police. He worried about her housing benefit claim. He told psychiatrists he was “tricked” after his son and partner took his mother’s house.
The prosecutor told the jury that Sophie Evans could not tell her story. He stated that the defendant attacked Sophie repeatedly, strangling her to death that morning. He added that Jones drove off after hurting and killing her, thinking about and justifying his actions. He then attempted suicide with some tablets. Before the attack, he believed Sophie and his son were scamming him.
Jones admitted manslaughter due to diminished responsibility but denied murder. A jury found him guilty of murder.
Ms. Evans’s sister spoke of the trauma and loss, stating, “Our lives have been completely destroyed,” and “There will never be enough justice now.” She called Jones’s actions disgraceful and said, “He took everything from us all.”
Mr. Davies stated his life changed completely when his father murdered his partner. “Sophie was caring,” he said in court, adding, “What Richard did is unforgivable.” He said his father ruined his future.
The defense lawyer noted that Mr. Jones heard the victim’s statements. “He knows the horrific act,” he said.
The judge sentenced Jones to imprisonment for life for killing Ms. Evans in her home after losing his temper. The judge mentioned Jones thought he was being scammed regarding property letting, and that Jones subjected her to gross violence, strangled her, and then left calmly, seemingly unconcerned.
A prosecutor stated Jones bore full responsibility for his callous actions. “Our thoughts remain with her family,” he stated.
A detective described the family’s heartbreak. Sophie’s death was completely avoidable, the result of senseless violence triggered when Jones lost his temper. He said Sophie was vulnerable when he attacked, alone with no defense at home and that Jones felt no remorse or responsibility for his actions.