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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Life term for girlfriend's murder | Life term for girlfriend's murder |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A jealous rugby player who strangled his girlfriend hours after she had chatted to a former boyfriend on Boxing Day has been jailed for life. | A jealous rugby player who strangled his girlfriend hours after she had chatted to a former boyfriend on Boxing Day has been jailed for life. |
| Jordan Rees, 24, from Pontypridd, said he did not mean to kill Rebecca Spry when he put his hands round her throat. | Jordan Rees, 24, from Pontypridd, said he did not mean to kill Rebecca Spry when he put his hands round her throat. |
| The Caerphilly player had admitted the manslaughter of the 18-year-old at his trial, but had denied murder. | The Caerphilly player had admitted the manslaughter of the 18-year-old at his trial, but had denied murder. |
| Sentencing him at Cardiff Crown Court, Judge Nigel Davis said Rees must serve at least 15 years. | Sentencing him at Cardiff Crown Court, Judge Nigel Davis said Rees must serve at least 15 years. |
| The court had heard that Rees had initially claimed Ms Spry had fallen out of bed. | The court had heard that Rees had initially claimed Ms Spry had fallen out of bed. |
| He did not call for an ambulance until after her sister had arrived at the house, and then told the ambulance operator: "Don't worry, I know you're busy". | He did not call for an ambulance until after her sister had arrived at the house, and then told the ambulance operator: "Don't worry, I know you're busy". |
| The trial heard Rees and Ms Spry had spent Boxing Day evening last year with family and friends at a fancy dress party at Pontypridd's Glyncoch Rugby Club. | The trial heard Rees and Ms Spry had spent Boxing Day evening last year with family and friends at a fancy dress party at Pontypridd's Glyncoch Rugby Club. |
| You held on to her throat for 15 to 30 seconds and must have realised that in that time you were going to kill her. Judge Nigel Davies | You held on to her throat for 15 to 30 seconds and must have realised that in that time you were going to kill her. Judge Nigel Davies |
| He claimed the pair had been "lovey dovey" until they returned to Ms Spry's family home in Glyncoch, Pontypridd, and started arguing and she had come at him with her fists up. | He claimed the pair had been "lovey dovey" until they returned to Ms Spry's family home in Glyncoch, Pontypridd, and started arguing and she had come at him with her fists up. |
| Rees, a trained first-aider, said he had pushed Ms Spry, who had fallen and hit her head, and he had then tried to revive her. | Rees, a trained first-aider, said he had pushed Ms Spry, who had fallen and hit her head, and he had then tried to revive her. |
| He rang Ms Spry's sister, Amie, in the early hours of the Tuesday after Boxing Day, asking her to come to the house. He said: "I don't know what's wrong with your sister. She's blue." | He rang Ms Spry's sister, Amie, in the early hours of the Tuesday after Boxing Day, asking her to come to the house. He said: "I don't know what's wrong with your sister. She's blue." |
| Rees told paramedics he had put his girlfriend to bed and gone downstairs to watch television. Shortly after, he said, he heard a loud thud and when he went to bed, he found her body. | Rees told paramedics he had put his girlfriend to bed and gone downstairs to watch television. Shortly after, he said, he heard a loud thud and when he went to bed, he found her body. |
| Forensic evidence showed Ms Spry had been strangled. | Forensic evidence showed Ms Spry had been strangled. |
| Jordan Rees denied murder but admitted killing Ms Spry | |
| In court, Rees admitted lying at first because he was scared and ashamed, although he maintained Ms Spry's death had been accidental. | In court, Rees admitted lying at first because he was scared and ashamed, although he maintained Ms Spry's death had been accidental. |
| He said: "I didn't want her to be dead. I was hoping she wasn't dead." | He said: "I didn't want her to be dead. I was hoping she wasn't dead." |
| But the trial was told that a "blood-curdling" scream was heard coming from the house, and on the night of the murder, Rees may have seen Ms Spry talking to an ex-boyfriend. | But the trial was told that a "blood-curdling" scream was heard coming from the house, and on the night of the murder, Rees may have seen Ms Spry talking to an ex-boyfriend. |
| Nick Cooke, prosecuting, said it had been "just chatting and a peck on the cheek". | Nick Cooke, prosecuting, said it had been "just chatting and a peck on the cheek". |
| He said: "It may be that Rees saw this. There was also some banter over a mobile phone which may have aroused his jealousy. | He said: "It may be that Rees saw this. There was also some banter over a mobile phone which may have aroused his jealousy. |
| "A man had been making a joke that Rebecca had been feeling his leg while she was talking to Rees on the phone." | "A man had been making a joke that Rebecca had been feeling his leg while she was talking to Rees on the phone." |
| Judge Davis described Rees as "chilling and cold-blooded". | Judge Davis described Rees as "chilling and cold-blooded". |
| He said: "Only you know what happened that night - she was an 18-year-old girl and you are a big rugby player. Something happened to make you snap." | He said: "Only you know what happened that night - she was an 18-year-old girl and you are a big rugby player. Something happened to make you snap." |
| "You held on to her throat for 15 to 30 seconds and must have realised that in that time you were going to kill her. | "You held on to her throat for 15 to 30 seconds and must have realised that in that time you were going to kill her. |
| "You are not afraid of attacking women even though you showed affection to this girl there was a much darker side to your relationship. | "You are not afraid of attacking women even though you showed affection to this girl there was a much darker side to your relationship. |
| He said: "You know how popular a girl she was - you have caused great pain to her parents, her sister and all her friends." | He said: "You know how popular a girl she was - you have caused great pain to her parents, her sister and all her friends." |