THE CARMARTHENSHIRE murder trial resumed on Monday, January 27, at Swansea Crown Court, with the prosecution outlining the events leading to the arrest of Richard Jones, who is charged with the murder of Sophie Evans.
Tracy Thompson made a 999 call on Friday, July 5, 2024, prompting emergency services to attend Ms. Evans’ home. That evening, at approximately 8:00 pm, Jones was arrested on suspicion of murder. Claiming to have taken an overdose of his medication, he was admitted to Glangwili Hospital for four days before being discharged into police custody.
Jones was interviewed nine times over two days at Llanelli Police Station before being formally charged with murder on Thursday, July 11, 2024.
The court heard that between November 29, 2023, and July 4, 2024, Jones and Ms. Evans exchanged 1,479 text messages described as “pleasant and of a friendly nature.” These included arrangements for Jones to visit Ms. Evans’ home to fix her drains. Prosecutors said there was no evidence in the communication suggesting Jones believed Ms. Evans had deceived him.
CCTV footage showed Jones arriving at Ms. Evans’ home at 9:21 am on Thursday, July 4, 2024. Four minutes later, Ms. Evans made three unanswered calls to her father. By 10:05 am, Jones was seen leaving the property. He claimed he returned shortly after, having forgotten his keys, and found Ms. Evans lying face down on the floor. Despite this, he did not call for help.
Ms. Evans’ body was later discovered with extensive injuries, including severe bruising, puncture wounds, and fractured vertebrae. Police also found a towel tied in what they described as a “hammock” or “sling” arrangement in the kitchen, partially supporting her body. Jones denied placing Ms. Evans in this position, repeatedly telling officers: “I can’t remember.”
When questioned about the injuries, Jones claimed he could not recall how they occurred. When asked by his ex-partner, Tracy Thompson, if he had killed Ms. Evans, he reportedly replied: “I must have. I don’t remember.”
Consultant psychiatrist Dr. Dilum Jayawickrama assessed Jones six weeks after Ms. Evans’ death. The court heard that Jones had a history of mental health struggles, including drug-induced psychosis and Type 1 diabetes. He admitted past drug use, including LSD, cannabis, cocaine, and ecstasy, but denied recent alcohol problems.
Dr. Jayawickrama told the court there was no evidence of active psychosis at the time of the assessment and that Jones was fit to enter a plea.
Further details revealed links between Ms. Evans and criminal activity. Jamie Davies, Jones’ son, is serving an eight-year prison sentence for conspiring to supply Class A drugs. Both Davies and Ms. Evans had previously been under investigation for fraud and money laundering.
However, prosecutors maintained that these factors were secondary to determining the events that led to Ms. Evans’ death.
The prosecution highlighted inconsistencies in Jones’ account and his inability to explain Ms. Evans’ injuries. They argued that his repeated claims of memory loss did not align with the physical evidence.
The trial continues, with another medical expert expected to give evidence later this week.
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