‘Loner’ pie empire heir stabbed housemate to death in ‘frenzied’ Christmas Eve attack after he ‘wanted to move in with his girlfriend’

Thomas has admitted manslaughter but denies murder over the death of Bush, who was found with fatal wounds near Llandaff Cathedral.

The pair, who met as schoolboys at the £13,000-a-year Christ College in Brecon, shared a house owned by Thomas’s wealthy grandparents.

Bush was described in court as a “quiet and passive man” who worked as a surveyor and was a talented golfer who had played for his county.

The court heard that just months before the killing, Thomas had made disturbing comments to Bush about wanting to harm him.

Prosecutor Greg Bull KC told the court that in October-November 2023, Bush had confided in his girlfriend Ella that Thomas said to him: “I thought about killing you.”

The threat was taken so seriously that Bush began barricading his bedroom door at night to prevent Thomas from entering while he slept.

Thomas was described as a “loner” who had very few friends, with Bush being his “only real friend,” according to testimony from Thomas’s grandmother.

The accused was “by far the stronger” of the two men, despite Bush being athletic and muscular at 14 stone, the court was told.

The relationship between the two men deteriorated after Bush began dating Ella Jeffries and made plans to move in with her in the new year.

Prosecutor Greg Bull KC told the court: “Before Mr Bush met Ella Jeffries the two men spent a great deal of time together. They would play together, they would go out together in the evening.”

Bush had been a crucial support for Thomas, regularly driving him around as Thomas could not drive.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

• Bungling burglar jailed after leaving trail of own blood during break-in spree
• Four teenagers arrested after fireworks thrown at police in Bonfire Night chaos
• Trial date set for teen accused of Southport schoolgirl murders

“Mr Thomas relied heavily on his friendship and the time spent with Mr Bush,” Mr Bull said. “The dynamics of the relationship between the two men were changing.”

The court heard Thomas’s attitude towards Bush changed notably as the victim spent increasing time with Ella and their relationship blossomed.

The pair had previously holidayed together with Thomas’s family, but their close friendship waned as Bush planned his future with Ella.

The court heard that Thomas had searched online for neck anatomy at 12:36am before the attack.

Armed with both a large kitchen knife and a black flick knife, Thomas entered Bush’s bedroom and attacked him from behind.

“Mr Bush was trying to escape from Mr Thomas who pursued him out of his bedroom, down two flights of stairs, through the kitchen, and outside into the patio,” Mr Bull told the court.

The attack lasted seven minutes, with “screams of horror” heard from the street.

Bush suffered 21 wounds to the neck, with Thomas using the kitchen knife to sever a major artery.

The kitchen knife was later found covered in blood with its tip bent, and was shown to the jury alongside the flick knife.

Thomas claimed he acted in self-defence, saying Bush was “having an episode.”

Thomas’s defence claims he was “suffering an abnormality of mind” during the attack, with the court hearing he had been receiving treatment for schizophrenia.

The prosecution accepted Thomas was “mentally unwell” and had begun suffering from psychosis before the killing.

Two psychiatrists who examined Thomas differed in their opinions about whether the act was caused by psychosis.

Prosecutor Greg Bull KC said one expert, Mr Jayawickrama, believed “even where a man is suffering from a psychotic illness, that does not necessarily mean the psychosis has caused the act.”

The jury heard Thomas had previously experienced at least one hallucination, believing Bush had “threatened to drink his spinal fluid.”

The trial, expected to last two weeks, continues at Cardiff Crown Court before Judge Karen Steyn.