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| A-level pupil 'killed boyfriend' | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| An A-level student stabbed her boyfriend to death following a drinking session on the day she received her exam results, a court has heard. | |
| Katherine McGrath, 19, denies murdering 22-year-old Alyn Thomas at her home in Brackla, Bridgend. | Katherine McGrath, 19, denies murdering 22-year-old Alyn Thomas at her home in Brackla, Bridgend. |
| She allegedly stabbed him through the heart with a steak knife while her parents were out. | She allegedly stabbed him through the heart with a steak knife while her parents were out. |
| Cardiff Crown Court heard the pair had been drinking around Bridgend and later had an argument. The case continues. | |
| Ms McGrath told police she took the knife from a kitchen drawer to "scare him off" during the row. | Ms McGrath told police she took the knife from a kitchen drawer to "scare him off" during the row. |
| The court heard the pair had argued after a woman colleague of Mr Thomas offered to buy him another drink while they were out. | The court heard the pair had argued after a woman colleague of Mr Thomas offered to buy him another drink while they were out. |
| Prosecutor Roger Thomas QC said: "The wound penetrated Alyn Thomas's heart and he died shortly afterwards. | |
| Alyn Thomas had gone with Ms McGrath to pick up her A-level results | Alyn Thomas had gone with Ms McGrath to pick up her A-level results |
| "There was no justification or excuse for Katherine McGrath taking hold of what was in effect a weapon - the steak knife - and using it to cause his death." | "There was no justification or excuse for Katherine McGrath taking hold of what was in effect a weapon - the steak knife - and using it to cause his death." |
| The court heard Ms McGrath was "distressed and emotional" during a 999 call in which she admitted stabbing her boyfriend. | The court heard Ms McGrath was "distressed and emotional" during a 999 call in which she admitted stabbing her boyfriend. |
| She claimed she had acted in self-defence after her boyfriend had attacked her and bit her thumb. | She claimed she had acted in self-defence after her boyfriend had attacked her and bit her thumb. |
| The court heard she told the emergency operator: "I did it in self-defence. He's my boyfriend and he came and attacked me and I didn't know what to do." | The court heard she told the emergency operator: "I did it in self-defence. He's my boyfriend and he came and attacked me and I didn't know what to do." |
| Ms McGrath was arrested and taken to a police station where she was told Mr Thomas had died. | Ms McGrath was arrested and taken to a police station where she was told Mr Thomas had died. |
| She told officers: "My boyfriend pushed me to the floor twice. He's got two convictions for assault. | She told officers: "My boyfriend pushed me to the floor twice. He's got two convictions for assault. |
| "He started biting me and I didn't know what to do. I just wanted him to get away from me. I love him." | "He started biting me and I didn't know what to do. I just wanted him to get away from me. I love him." |
| Night out | Night out |
| The pair went to Brynteg Comprehensive School in Bridgend on the morning of 20 August last year to collect Ms McGrath's A-level results. | The pair went to Brynteg Comprehensive School in Bridgend on the morning of 20 August last year to collect Ms McGrath's A-level results. |
| She was due to go on to university but had failed to achieve the necessary grades. | She was due to go on to university but had failed to achieve the necessary grades. |
| They had spent part of the day drinking before Mr Thomas went to work at a supermarket in Maesteg. | They had spent part of the day drinking before Mr Thomas went to work at a supermarket in Maesteg. |
| They met again later and together drank Malibu, cider, lager and whiskey before meeting friends at bars in Bridgend town centre. | |
| Prosecutor Mr Thomas said: "They were in one pub where Alyn met Tesco colleague Carys Stanton who had accidentally bumped Alyn's car previously. | Prosecutor Mr Thomas said: "They were in one pub where Alyn met Tesco colleague Carys Stanton who had accidentally bumped Alyn's car previously. |
| "She was embarrassed even though Alyn Thomas laughed it off and made very little of the incident. | "She was embarrassed even though Alyn Thomas laughed it off and made very little of the incident. |
| 'Changed behaviour' | |
| "She apologised for bumping his car and offered to buy Alyn some drinks. | "She apologised for bumping his car and offered to buy Alyn some drinks. |
| "Katherine McGrath will later refer to this and will describe how it was the start of the incident. | "Katherine McGrath will later refer to this and will describe how it was the start of the incident. |
| "McGrath claimed that when Alyn attacked her he was aggressive and angry - shouting the name Carys." | "McGrath claimed that when Alyn attacked her he was aggressive and angry - shouting the name Carys." |
| The court heard that a taxi driver who drove the couple to her home thought they were "in good spirits and were a lively couple". | The court heard that a taxi driver who drove the couple to her home thought they were "in good spirits and were a lively couple". |
| But Ms McGrath told police that once inside the house, her boyfriend's behaviour changed. | But Ms McGrath told police that once inside the house, her boyfriend's behaviour changed. |
| She claimed he pushed her around the living room before she took the steak knife from a kitchen door to "scare him away". | She claimed he pushed her around the living room before she took the steak knife from a kitchen door to "scare him away". |