A man murdered his neighbour on the caravan park where they lived by brutally beating him and setting his mobile home on fire. Darren Smith, 43, later claimed that Richard Thomas had started the blaze himself in his van - but a jury rejected his version of events and unanimously agreed to convict the 43-year-old who will now undergo psychiatric assessments, Wales Online reports.
Emergency services were called out to Beeches caravan park in Magor, Monmouthshire in the early hours of December, 20, 2021 after a fire had been reported. On arrival, firefighters performed a "snatch rescue" of the victim from his caravan home and carried him out to a safe place.
During the trial at Cardiff Crown Court heard that Mr Thomas' body was "smouldering and smoking" and his severely burnt legs and arms were beginning to "curl" as a result of extreme tendon damage. Firefighters desperately performed first aid on the casualty and also soaked him in water.
Two of the firefighters reported that they heard Mr Thomas saying words to the effect of "stop hitting me" or "stop hurting me". Despite the best efforts of firefighters and paramedics, Mr Thomas could not be saved.
Officers who spoke to the 43-year-old defendant at the scene of the blaze reported that he initially said he didn't even realise there was a fire until the emergency services arrived at the caravan park. He later confessed that he had been drinking with Mr Thomas, who was widely nicknamed as 'Shrew'.
Smith denied starting the fire, as he claimed that the pair got into a verbal argument and Mr Thomas poured petrol around the van and set it alight. It was the prosecution's case that Smith had in fact beaten Mr Thomas and then started the blaze in the caravan "before casually walking back to his own caravan knowing that Mr Thomas would die".
Darren Anthony Smith, of Beeches Residential Caravan, Knollbury, Magor, Monmouthshire, was consequently convicted for the murder of Richard Thomas. Sentencing was postponed until January 13 next year pending pre-sentence and psychiatric reports. Addressing the defendant in the dock Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said: "You know there is only one sentence for the offence of murder – that is life.
"But I will need to set the minimum term you must serve before you can even apply for parole." Mr Thomas's devastated family have since paid tribute to their "well known and lively" loved one. They said: "Our dearly beloved Richard Grenfell Thomas, who was known by his nickname Shrew, was one of a kind.
"He will be sorely missed by his family and many friends. Mum and dad, brothers, sister-in-laws, aunts, uncles and cousins are very much shocked by his sudden passing.
"Richard made and took his own chances in life, living it to the full – there was never a dull moment with him, he was a strong character, well-known and a lively person, with an eclectic circle of friends and interests. Rest in peace Richard.
"We know even in death you will still be your own free spirit."
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