Wrexham man to be sentenced for murder of his fiancée

Madog Rowlands was unanimously convicted at Newport Crown Court in December.

The 23-year-old, of Coed Efa in New Broughton, Wrexham, had denied murdering 21-year-old Lauren Griffiths, from Oswestry.

He is to be sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court this afternoon.

Madog Rowlands captured on police bodycam as officers attended the flat following his 999 call in April 2019. Image provided by South Wales Police

Ms Griffiths' body was found partially wrapped in plastic at a flat in Glynrhondda Street in Cathays, Cardiff, in April 2019.

Jurors heard how she had been diagnosed as having complex trauma leading to dissociative episodes.

Rowlands told the court that during the course of one of these episodes, in the early hours of April 29, she put her hands around his neck - which prevented him from breathing.

Wrexham man told emergency operator he'd killed partner "by mistake"

He claimed he’d done the same to her in order to stop her, and that before he almost passed out they both fell away from each other.

Rowlands realised she wasn’t breathing, he said, and believed it was “too late” to call for help.

It wasn’t until about 6pm the day after that he contacted emergency services.

In the intervening period, he ordered £42 worth of food from pizza chain Domino’s, tried to set up a Netflix account and took drugs - as well as ordering a Subway sandwich which he ate in the bedroom next to his partner’s body, the court heard.

Lauren Griffiths

Caroline Rees QC, defending, told the court: “His action was instinctive, made very quickly to protect himself.”

She said after Ms Griffiths’ death, Rowlands had “spiralled into a void of self destruction."

Wrexham man accused of murder 'made no attempt to resuscitate partner'

“His first reaction was an overwhelming urge to end his life, which he tried to act on," she said.

"The wrapping of the body in cling film is a disturbing factor in this case and we don’t intend to shy away from that.

“He described an overwhelming urge to cover her body in plastic material - he couldn’t explain why.”

In his summary Michael Jones QC, prosecuting, said: “Having killed a woman he says he loved so much, what did he do?

"He didn’t call the emergency services immediately. He didn’t rush to try and resuscitate her - not a single attempt to help her.

“After doing what he had done to her, he spent the next 24 to 36 hours contemplating his future.”