Mum killed after doing school run, court hears

Sophie Evans's family said she had a "huge heart" and was "adored"

A 30-year-old mother-of-two was found dead in her home following a "sustained attack" after returning from doing the school run, a court heard.

The body of Sophie Evans was found at the property in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, on 5 July 2024.

Richard Jones, 50, from Burry Port, Carmarthenshire, has admitted manslaughter with diminished responsibility but denies her murder.

A jury at Swansea Crown Court heard that Dyfed-Powys Police were called to the house on Bigyn Road where they found Ms Evans face down and naked on the kitchen floor, having been attacked while wearing a bathrobe.

The jury heard that Ms Evans and Mr Jones were known to each other as Ms Evans was in a relationship with Mr Jones's son.

In the opening of the prosecution case at Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday, Mike Jones KC told the jury that when she was attacked Ms Evans had just returned home from dropping off her two children at school.

Mr Jones is said to have been a "regular visitor" carrying out "odd jobs" at the premises.

The court heard how, on 5 July 2024, Mr Jones arrived at the house and was let in by Ms Evans as they had agreed he would come to "fix the drains".

'Blunt force trauma'

Det Con Chloe Pritchard from Dyfed-Powys Police played videos of Mr Jones arriving at the property that morning with footage showing him entering the property at 09:23 BST.

Phone records showed that Ms Evans made multiple phone calls to her father shortly after.

However, when Neil Evans tried to return her calls at 09:39 there was no answer and police said there was no activity on her phone.

At 10:00, CCTV showed Mr Jones running out to his car but returning to the property, leaving again a few minutes later with his hat and gloves before heading into Llanelli to visit a bank and a bakery.

The jury heard that Ms Evans sustained multiple injuries including a fracture to the neck, blunt force trauma to the head, two black eyes and bruising, ultimately being strangled to death by "forceful and sustained pressure to the neck during this assault".

Mr Jones KC told the court that the defendant left her "dead, naked and face down" before heading back to his house in Burry Port with baked goods and then onto Pembrey Country Park, after which multiple texts and phone calls were exchanged with family and friends.

'Text exchange'

The jury saw an exchange between Mr Jones and his ex-partner Tracey Thompson in which he called his son, Jamie Davies, and Ms Evans scamming thieves. Following a phone conversation between Mr Jones and Ms Thompson that afternoon, the jury was also shown a text telling her "don't say a word".

Following a 999 call to the police by Ms Thompson, police arrived at the house at 17:32.

They discovered the 30-year-old's body in the kitchen facedown, and Mr Jones was arrested at 20.02 that day.

The jury also heard details of Mr Jones's mental state at the time, saying he was becoming "increasingly agitated", claiming he was financially being taken advantage of by Ms Evans and his son, Mr Davies.

Mr Jones kept his head down during the evidence.

Ms Evans's family, who were in court, have previously released a statement to say they were "heartbroken by her loss" adding "she would be greatly missed by us all".

The trial, which is expected to last two weeks, will resume on Wednesday.