Cardiff man convicted of murdering his partner at their Birchgrove home

Mum of two Victoria Thomas was strangled to death by her partner Alcwyn Thomas after he spent the day drinking heavily and taking cocaine.

Victoria, 45, was found in a top-floor spare bedroom of a house they shared on Caerphilly Road in Birchgrove in Cardiff.

Thomas, 44, admitted manslaughter but maintained that Victoria’s death was a ‘sex act gone wrong’ and that it was during ‘erotic asphyxiation’ that she died.

He denied murder but was today (Wednesday, March 26) found guilty of the charge following a trial at Cardiff Crown Court.

CCTV from the afternoon of Monday, August 19, 2024, showed the couple, who were not married, visiting The New Inn on Caerphilly Road and then Club 3000 Bingo in Gabalfa with members of the defendant’s family.

His mood that evening was described as argumentative and moody. He had drunk a total of 16 pints of lager and had been using cocaine.

Further CCTV outside the bingo halls, captured Alcwyn Thomas taking cocaine and what appeared to be an argument between the couple before getting in a taxi.

The last sighting of Victoria alive was at 9.26pm when the couple returned home.

Just after 11pm, Thomas sent texts to his sisters saying “Sorry I done something so bad”.

Victoria’s body was found during the early hours of Tuesday, August 20, after Thomas’ niece, concerned by the texts, went to check on her welfare.

When police arrived, Thomas was asleep in the couple’s bedroom on the middle floor. He replied ‘no comment’ during police interview but later admitted intentionally strangling Victoria.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Matt Powell said:

“Victoria Thomas was a much-loved daughter, mother, sister, aunt, and niece.
“Her devastated family have shown tremendous patience and dignity during this heart-breaking ordeal. Our thoughts are with them today as they have been throughout.
“Having killed Victoria in the spare bedroom, Alcwyn Thomas then went to sleep in their bedroom.
“At no time, did he make any efforts to revive Vicki or seek help for her.
“We would like to thank all the witnesses who assisted the investigation, as well as the prosecution team.”

Thomas will be sentenced on April 24.