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| Father convicted of son's murder | Father convicted of son's murder |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A man has been found guilty of stabbing his grown-up son to death in a drunken row over chips at the home they shared. | A man has been found guilty of stabbing his grown-up son to death in a drunken row over chips at the home they shared. |
| Martin Thompson, 51, had denied murdering Craig, 29, at their home on the Gurnos estate in Merthyr Tydfil after he had been drinking all day. | Martin Thompson, 51, had denied murdering Craig, 29, at their home on the Gurnos estate in Merthyr Tydfil after he had been drinking all day. |
| The jury at Cardiff Crown Court found him guilty by a majority of 11 to one after deliberating for 10 hours. | The jury at Cardiff Crown Court found him guilty by a majority of 11 to one after deliberating for 10 hours. |
| Thompson, who denied the charge, was remanded in custody and will be sentenced later. | Thompson, who denied the charge, was remanded in custody and will be sentenced later. |
| Craig Thompson was stabbed in the chest by his father early on 30 November last year. | Craig Thompson was stabbed in the chest by his father early on 30 November last year. |
| The trial was told how Martin Thompson returned to their Lavender Road home after drinking all day. | The trial was told how Martin Thompson returned to their Lavender Road home after drinking all day. |
| Confronted | Confronted |
| The prosecution said both men had started drinking heavily following the death of Martin Thompson's wife - Craig's mother - some years previously. | The prosecution said both men had started drinking heavily following the death of Martin Thompson's wife - Craig's mother - some years previously. |
| Craig Thompson heard his father shouting: "Who's pinched my chips?" and went downstairs to speak to him. | Craig Thompson heard his father shouting: "Who's pinched my chips?" and went downstairs to speak to him. |
| Prosecutor Ian Murphy said: "Craig was confronted by his father carrying a four-inch knife." | Prosecutor Ian Murphy said: "Craig was confronted by his father carrying a four-inch knife." |
| Mr Murphy said Thompson then threatened his son, saying he would stab him. | Mr Murphy said Thompson then threatened his son, saying he would stab him. |
| "Craig said: 'Go on then Dad,' - but then tried to kick the knife out of his father's hand," the prosecutor told the court. | "Craig said: 'Go on then Dad,' - but then tried to kick the knife out of his father's hand," the prosecutor told the court. |
| "He missed and his father stabbed him in the right leg, causing him to sit down and hold his wound. Martin Thomson and his son became drinkers after the death of his wife | "He missed and his father stabbed him in the right leg, causing him to sit down and hold his wound. Martin Thomson and his son became drinkers after the death of his wife |
| "Thompson then stabbed his son in the chest three times." | "Thompson then stabbed his son in the chest three times." |
| Police were called and found Craig dead in a pool of blood. | Police were called and found Craig dead in a pool of blood. |
| The court heard that Thompson told police: "It is my doing, it's my fault." | The court heard that Thompson told police: "It is my doing, it's my fault." |
| The court heard Thompson was "very drunk" when he arrived home shortly after midnight on the day of the tragedy. | The court heard Thompson was "very drunk" when he arrived home shortly after midnight on the day of the tragedy. |
| Giving evidence, Thompson claimed he was peeling potatoes when his son started to "wind him up". | |
| He told police he pushed his son, not realising the knife he was using was still in his hand. | He told police he pushed his son, not realising the knife he was using was still in his hand. |
| But the jury heard there was no evidence of potatoes being peeled in the kitchen - but frozen ready-made chips were found in a pan. | |
| After the verdict was returned, Judge Mr David Lloyd Jones told him: "There is only one sentence for murder and that is life imprisonment. | After the verdict was returned, Judge Mr David Lloyd Jones told him: "There is only one sentence for murder and that is life imprisonment. |
| "But I must decide the minimum term before you can apply for parole." |
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