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Student, 19, is cleared of murder Student convicted of manslaughter
(about 2 hours later)
A 19-year-old A-level student has been cleared of murdering her boyfriend on the day she received her exam results, but found guilty of manslaughter. A 19-year-old A-level student has been cleared of murdering her boyfriend but found guilty of his manslaughter on the day she received her exam results.
Katherine McGrath had denied murdering 22-year-old supermarket worker Alyn Thomas, from Cymmer, Port Talbot. Katherine McGrath screamed and fainted as the manslaughter verdict was read out at Cardiff Crown Court.
She said she had acted in self-defence when she stabbed him with a steak knife on 20 August in Brackla, Bridgend. She had denied murdering Alyn Thomas and his family embraced at the verdict.
The jury at Cardiff Crown Court acquitted her of murder but then returned a guilty manslaughter verdict. She said she acted in self-defence when when she stabbed Mr Thomas, 22, from Cymmer, Neath Port Talbot, at her home in Bridgend on 20 August after a row.
Jurors had retired to consider their verdict on Wednesday afternoon, and returned on Friday afternoon. It took the six-man, six-woman jury more than 10 hours to clear McGrath of murder but convict her of manslaughter, which led to her family and friends sobbing.
Police interviews played at court previously heard her say she was trying to stop Mr Thomas attacking her. They had retired to consider their verdict on Wednesday afternoon, and returned on Friday afternoon. Mr Thomas's family criticised McGrath for not giving evidence during the trial, saying they were "shocked and dismayed".
Ms McGrath said her boyfriend bit her on her thumb during a row. His family said after the verdict: "We will never know exactly what transpired on that fateful morning. "Alyn was a very loving and caring soul and was loved and respected by so many people of various ages.
Alyn Thomas was stabbed at Katherine McGrath's home Alyn left footprints on your heart even after the briefest encounter because his love for life was so infectious Alyn Thomas's family
The wound was examined by a forensic dentist who confirmed it was caused by Mr Thomas. "Alyn left footprints on your heart even after the briefest encounter because his love for life was so infectious."
Mr Thomas had two previous convictions for assault after fighting in a nightclub, the court has heard. Roger Thomas QC, prosecuting, told jurors McGrath had killed Mr Thomas during an argument after a night out drinking with friends.
The jury heard police interviews played during the trial in which she said she was trying to stop Mr Thomas attacking her.
McGrath also said her boyfriend bit her on her thumb during a row.
'Extremely painful'
Forensic dentistry expert Kathryn Adams had said: "Marks on McGrath's right hand are the result of a bite of considerable force from Alyn Thomas' incisor teeth.
"A bite of this type would have been extremely painful when it was inflicted."
In police interviews, McGrath - who did not give evidence in court - had described the moments leading up to her using a steak knife to stab Mr Thomas.
"I said please, please go back. Please stop what you are doing, you are hurting me," she said.
"He had already pushed me and spat on me. I didn't know what he could have done next. I had no idea what he was capable of."
Victim Alyn Thomas had two previous convictions for assault, the jury heard
Mr Thomas had two previous convictions for assault after fighting in a nightclub, the court was told.
The pair had gone to Brynteg Comprehensive School in Bridgend on the morning of 20 August to collect her A-level results.The pair had gone to Brynteg Comprehensive School in Bridgend on the morning of 20 August to collect her 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.
'Lively couple''Lively couple'
They met again later and drank together before meeting friends at bars in Bridgend town centre.They met again later and drank together before meeting friends at bars in Bridgend town centre.
The jury heard the pair had argued after a woman colleague of Mr Thomas offered to buy him another drink while they were out.The jury heard the pair had argued after a woman colleague of Mr Thomas offered to buy him another drink while they were out.
They later took a taxi to Ms McGrath's house. They later took a taxi to McGrath's house in Brackla.
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 she told police that once inside the house, her boyfriend's behaviour changed.But she 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 drawer to "scare him away".She claimed he pushed her around the living room before she took the steak knife from a kitchen drawer to "scare him away".
'Fateful morning'
John Charles Rees QC, defending, said: "There is no doubt there was a sudden eruption of violence but why should Miss McGrath suddenly become the aggressor and attack Mr Thomas?"
He asked jurors: "Who is the more likely to become aggressive? To take part in an unprovoked attack in drink?"
He said the single 2.5cm (1in) stab wound, lack of bruising around the incision and lack of evidence of great force being used supported the claim his client had not intentionally killed Mr Thomas.
He said the couple were engaged in a physical struggle, during which their bodies were close together and because the skin on the chest is tight, the knife would have slid in "like a knife through butter".