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Five years for student who killed Five years for student who killed
(about 1 hour later)
A 19-year-old A-level student who stabbed her boyfriend to death has been sentenced to five years in a young offenders' institute. A student who killed her boyfriend on the day she received her A-level results has been sentenced to five years in a young offenders' institute.
Katherine McGrath was convicted two weeks ago of the manslaughter of Alyn Thomas, 22, at her home in Bridgend.Katherine McGrath was convicted two weeks ago of the manslaughter of Alyn Thomas, 22, at her home in Bridgend.
She said she had acted in self-defence when she stabbed Mr Thomas, from Neath Port Talbot, following a row. The 19-year-old said she had acted in self-defence when she stabbed Mr Thomas through the heart with a steak knife.
Sentencing McGrath at Cardiff Crown Court, the judge said arming herself with a knife had been an overreaction.Sentencing McGrath at Cardiff Crown Court, the judge said arming herself with a knife had been an overreaction.
He said: "I have no doubt that you genuinely loved Alyn Thomas and that you bitterly regret killing him." "I have no doubt that you genuinely loved Alyn Thomas and that you bitterly regret killing him," said Mr Justice Griffith Williams.
But he added he was sure that the jury had not heard the whole truth. But he added: "Only you know what actually happened in the kitchen of your home but of this I am sure: the jury did not hear the whole truth."
He said he was prepared to accept that she had been provoked when the couple rowed but her decision to arm herself with a knife was an overreaction. He said he was prepared to accept that she had been provoked when the couple rowed, but her decision to arm herself with a knife was an overreaction.
Alyn Thomas was stabbed at Katherine McGrath's home
McGrath had been cleared of murder at Cardiff Crown Court but she was found guilty of manslaughter.
Mr Thomas's family had criticised McGrath for not giving evidence during the trial, saying they were "shocked and dismayed".
During the trial, Roger Thomas QC, prosecuting, told jurors McGrath had killed Mr Thomas, of Cymmer, Neath Port Talbot, 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.
She also said her boyfriend bit her on her thumb during a row.
In police interviews, she 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."
Pair argued
Mr Thomas had two previous convictions for assault after fighting in a nightclub, the court was told.
On the morning of 20 August, the pair had gone to Brynteg Comprehensive School in Bridgend to collect her A-level results.
They had spent part of the day drinking before Mr Thomas went to work at a supermarket in Maesteg.
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.
They later took a taxi to her house in Brackla.
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".