Richard Jones, 50, has denied murdering 30-year-old Sophie Evans but admitted to manslaughter in connection with her death. Evans, a mother of two, was found dead in her Llanelli home on July 5, 2024, after Jones allegedly killed her in a fit of rage.
Jones claims he was convinced that Sophie Evans and his son, Jamie Davies, were scamming him, leading to the tragic incident. He believes the allegations were partly fueled by a television program, Scam Interceptors. He says the stress from these beliefs led to his actions that night.
After a police search, Jones was captured in a dramatic coastal manhunt when South Wales Police and Dyfed-Powys Police officers tracked his mobile phone to the vicinity of Pembrey Country Park. He was found driving his Renault Clio, and upon being blocked by police, he was arrested. Officers also found a metal tin containing tablets on him during the arrest.
A chilling phone call between Jones and his ex-partner, Tracey Thompson, was presented in court. She reported that Jones seemed agitated and mentioned, “The problem is sorted. The problem is erased.” When she asked him if he had killed Evans, he confirmed it, saying, “yeah.”
While Jones believed he had been scammed by Evans and Davies, an investigation by Dyfed-Powys Police’s economic crime unit found no evidence of fraud or financial loss. Jones was later arrested and charged with murder, though he maintains his innocence on that charge and admits to manslaughter.
The trial, set to last two weeks, continues as more details of the case are presented.
