Richard Jones must serve a minimum of 20 years in prison for killing 30-year-old Sophie Evans – she was discovered face down wearing only a bath towel following the murder in Llanelli, Wales
A man has been sentenced to life in prison after strangling his son’s girlfriend.
Richard Jones must serve a minimum of 20 years in prison for killing 30-year-old Sophie Evans. Jones, 50 said he killed the 30-year-old woman, after he believed she and her boyfriend – his son Jamie Davies – were scamming him, a trial at Swansea Crown Court heard.
The victim was found lying face-down with injuries to the head, face, neck, trunk, arms and legs which forensic pathologist Dr Edward John Williams told the court were “entirely in keeping with forceful and sustained pressure to the neck during assault”.
The trial previously hear she was wearing only a bath towel when police found her on the kitchen floor. Prosecutor Michael Jones KC said: “What we know is in that house the defendant physically and repeatedly attacked Ms Evans before strangling her to death.” In a notepad found in the defendant’s vehicle following Ms Evans’ death was a note reading: “I got scammed and rinsed by my own son so I dealt with it myself. Had no other choice.”
Sentencing him today Judge Geraint Walters said: “You were found guilty of murder. You had pleaded not guilty to murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility. I heard the evidence of the trial which established on the morning of July 5, 2024, you went to the home of your victim Sophie Evans at the address she occupied in Llanelli. She was and had been for some time in a relationship with your son Jamie Davies.
“Sophie Evans was 30 years of age and a mother of two young children. That morning before you turned up at her home she had just taken her two children for the last time on their school run. She wasn’t to know that when she parted company with them that morning. There was nothing unusual about you calling at her home. The evidence established from time to time you carried out maintenance work for her.
“That morning, whatever process caused it to happen, you repeatedly beat her for a period of time before strangling her to death. At the time she was attacked by you and killed, she was wearing only a bath towel and when the police were to find her later that day, she was lying naked on her own kitchen floor with rigor mortis having already set in.”
In mitigation, David Elias KC for Jone said his client had been suffering from paranoia brought on by his poor mental health and he had not been assisted by his use of drugs.
Sophie’s partner and Jones’ son Jamie Davies’ victim impact statement was read to the court. It said: “Since the moment Sophie was taken away from me my life has never been the same. I’m suffering from depression and anxiety due to losing Sophie. She was the most beautiful, loving and caring person I could ever ask for.
“She loved her father, siblings and her two young children dearly. What Richard has done is truly unforgivable, he’s ruined my future and of having a family unit of my own. Sophie was my future wife, we were planning on having children and discussions on where we were going to get married. Our plans and dreams have been taken away from us due to the selfish actions of Richard.
“We trusted Richard and were never concerned about having him over. I didn’t think for one minute he was capable of harming Sophie, nevermind murdering her. She was planning Richard’s birthday and organising a meal for him. These are one of many examples of Sophie’s act of kindness she did towards this man.
“Because of Richard’s actions, it’s affected not only me but a huge amount of people including Sophie’s two children, who now have to go through life without the support of Sophie, their mother. The thought of having to live our lives without Sophie causes me extreme pain and heartache.”
