Woman died after being strangled during sex - court

A man claimed he killed his fiancée during "make up sex" after an argument, a court has heard.

Alcwyn Thomas, 44, is accused of murdering Victoria Thomas, 45, by strangling her at their home in Caerphilly Road, in Cardiff.

Mr Thomas admits manslaughter but denies murder, telling the jury: "I killed [her] accidentally."

The prosecution said he was using their sex life to cover up what had happened.

The prosecution also claimed the defendant was in a "bad mood" after taking cocaine, drinking about 16 pints of lager and believing he had lost money at bingo.

Mr Thomas told Cardiff Crown Court that Ms Thomas had asked him to strangle her during consensual sex after they came home on 20 August, 2024.

"[Victoria] asked me to choke her on the bed," he said.

He agreed he had applied pressure and then realised she had passed out and her skin was "blue".

"I opened my eyes and looked at her face... she looked dead," he said.

Mr Thomas told the court he covered her with a blanket but did not try to revive her or call an ambulance.

He told the jury he had strangled Ms Thomas "hundreds of times" before.

Under Michael Jones KC's cross-examination, Mr Thomas admitted his wife "wasn't best pleased" with him when they left bingo and claimed she called him abusive names in texts with relatives.

He agreed he could be "horrible on drink and drugs" but said that evening was "nothing different to normal".

Mr Thomas said despite being drunk, taking cocaine, arguing, and him being sick in the toilet, Ms Thomas wanted to have sex in a spare bedroom.

Mr Jones suggested Ms Thomas had gone to the room "to get away from you".

Mr Thomas said that was not the case.

Mr Jones said: "The truth of this case is that you attacked and strangled Victoria that night isn't it?"

"No, I never," Mr Thomas answered.

"Your sex life with Victoria is a smokescreen to hide what you really did," Mr Jones said.

The case continues.