Swansea man jailed following murder of Kelvin Evans in Gorseinon last year

A man from Swansea has been jailed for the murder of Kelvin Evans in Gorseinon last year.

Christopher Cooper, 39, from the Maritime Quarter, punched Mr Evans once to the head outside The Station Hotel, Gorseinon High Street on May 26, 2024.

The victim was immediately rendered unconscious and was taken to hospital, but his condition deteriorated, and he later passed away on June 26.

Cooper pleaded guilty to manslaughter but was later found guilty of murder.

Cooper’s partner, 54-year-old Tracy Francis, from Llanelli, was also found guilty of assisting an offender to prevent his arrest or prosecution.

Christopher Cooper was today given a life sentence with a minimum term of 16 years whilst Tracy Francis was sentenced to two years in prison.

 

Detective Inspector David Butt said: “We are pleased to see that justice has been done in court.

“Christopher Cooper’s senseless attack has cost Kelvin Evans his life and has done untold damage to the lives of his family and friends. Kelvin Evans should have been able to return home safely to his family following a night out on a Sunday night in May last year. Instead, his family will never be able to forget that night. I hope that they receive some comfort from today’s sentencing, and that they can now begin to grieve the loss of Kelvin.

“Meanwhile, Tracy Francis’s sentence should be seen as a warning against assisting offenders to evade justice – this will not work and will only result in those assisting being made to face justice too.

“I would like to thank the landlord, staff, and regulars of the Station Hotel Gorseinon, who went to Kevin’s aid following the attack and also provided vital support and assistance to the Police investigation.

“Taking drugs and drinking too much alcohol affects your decision-making. It can make people vulnerable to becoming a victim or a perpetrator. As this case and so many others in the past have shown, just one punch can have a completely life-changing impact upon both the perpetrator and the victim. In a split-second, someone can become a killer, and someone can be killed.

“If you ever find yourself in this situation, we urge you: please, take a step back, and walk away.”