Pie fortune heir who stabbed friend claimed self defence, court hears

An heir to a £230millon fortune who stabbed his best friend told police: 'It was f***ing self-defence mate. It's f***ing Christmas as well' as he was arrested for murder, a court heard.

Millionaire's grandson Dylan Thomas, 24, is accused at Cardiff Crown Court of stabbing his housemate William Bush, 23, to death on Christmas Eve last year.

Thomas returned to their shared home to attack William from behind by stabbing him 39 times in the neck - severing the major artery - and body, the court heard.

Police body-worn footage of Thomas's arrest in the Llandaff suburb of Cardiff was played to the court yesterday, in which he is seen telling an officer: 'Oh man, my friend. What the f***?'

He says that he has been hit on his back, adding: 'Are you not going to call an ambulance? Is there blood on me?'

Thomas then tells officers: 'Oh f***ing hell. Can you go watch the police in my house? Last time they planted coke on me. My f***ing head hurts. Can I get my nan to call a lawyer please?'

An officer speaking to their colleague then confirms that Mr Bush has died - and Thomas is placed under arrest for attempted murder.

Thomas says: 'Can you take me to hospital for my hands? It was f***ing self-defence mate, he's come to me and I have stabbed him back. It's f***ing Christmas as well.'

He then calls out to his grandmother Sharon Burton: 'Mamgu!'

Thomas tells the officer that it is just 'the two of us' who came to the property, adding: 'My nan came to help. She tried to help him and me.'

Earlier, the grandson of pie and property tycoon Sir Stanley Thomas and the heir to a £230million fortune had asked his grandmother to drive him back to Llandaff.

They arrived at Ty Mathew in Llandaff at 11.16am on December 24 where Thomas then attacked William from behind by stabbing him in the neck.

Thomas allegedly armed himself with a large kitchen knife and a black lock knife or flick knife to carry out the 'planned attack,' said prosecutor Greg Bull KC.

Bloodied Mr Bush escaped the home and collapsed on the patio in front of shocked Christmas shoppers in the well-off suburb next to a cathedral.

The court heard how witnesses called 999 to help talented golfer Mr Bush - but Thomas called the ambulance service for his own injuries.

Thomas suffered injuries to his hands which the prosecution claim were inflicted during the course of attacking Mr Bush, who was described as 'literally fighting for his life against an armed attacker'.

When Thomas went back to his grandmother's car, she could see what had happened and 'bravely' went to assist Mr Bush.

She was said to have tried her best to save his life but was unsuccessful.

Mrs Burton told officers: 'I wish I'd never taken him. I would never have envisaged anything like that from Dylan, not in a million years.'

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Police immediately performed CPR after finding Mr Bush injured in the Chapel Street car park next to the city's landmark Llandaff Cathedral.

Paramedics arrived and Mr Bush was taken two miles to the University Hospital of Wales. But he was declared dead at 12.10pm.

Mr Bull said: 'It is clear that Dylan Thomas used the kitchen knife to stab Mr Bush in the chest and cut his throat severing the major artery in the neck, as a result of which Mr Bush bled to death.'

A post-mortem examination carried out by Dr Richard Jones at the University Hospital of Wales recorded cause of death as multiple stab wounds to the neck and trunk.

Thomas was then arrested on suspicion of Mr Bush's murder in the back of a police van.

Cardiff Crown Court heard Mr Bush had been Thomas's only friend but had planned to move in with his girlfriend Ella Jeffries in the New Year.

The pair met as schoolboys at £13,000-a-term Christ College, Brecon, where they were both students.

Mr Bull said: 'Mr Bush was a loving son, brother, partner, and friend. He was well-loved by all who knew him. He was by nature a quiet and passive man who shied away from confrontation.

'He was fit and muscular and at the time of his death was 14 stone and 5ft 8in. He was athletic, a keen golfer, and on occasion played golf for his county.

'He worked as a surveyor in this city but left his job due to stress and ill health but was looking forward to the new year. He had found a new job and was looking to set up home with his partner Ella Jeffries.'

Thomas was described as having very few friends and was 'regarded as something of a loner'.

Thomas denies murder but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter. The prosecution said his not guilty plea to murder was not acceptable to the Crown.

Mr Bull said it was 'a frenzied attack where Mr Thomas could only have one intention, and that was to kill.'

The defence claims Thomas did not have rational judgement about whether what he was doing was right or wrong. But that is not accepted by the prosecution.

Thomas appeared at court via a videolink from Ashworth High Secure Hospital. 

The trial, in front of Judge Karen Steyn, continues.