The women killed by men in Wales since 2020

At least 18 women have been killed by men since January 2020 in Wales.

Many of these were violent attacks which resulted in convictions for murder.

The women ranged in age from 16 to 87.

Each with a story of their own, and people who love and miss them.

Warning: This article contains descriptions of violence

All these women were killed by a man or it is a man who has been charged in connection with their deaths.

Those that have been accused or convicted of the killings include husbands, ex-partners and sons.

Each of these women have left behind heartbroken families.

Families who want their loved one remembered for the lives they had, and not their violent deaths.

Earlier this year, the National Police Chiefs Council declared violence against women and girls a national emergency.

Amanda Blakeman, Chief Constable of North Wales Police and the Wales lead for this area, said: “My heart goes out to the families and friends of all these women whose lives were so tragically cut short in such a violent way.

“We will continue to do all we can to break the cycle of abuse that victims find themselves in and bring perpetrators to justice.”

Below are the cases of women we are legally able to report, compiled from court and inquest reports over the past four years.

There are other cases with active court proceedings and women who lost their lives where severe health issues or mental illness was a key factor.

Mum-of-two Sophie Evans has been called beautiful and amazing by her family.

They said they were heartbroken by her loss and she would be greatly missed.

Sophie was 30 when her body was found in a house in Carmarthenshire on 5 July 2024.

Richard Jones, 50, has denied murder – but entered a guilty plea to manslaughter.

A trial date has been set for January 2025.

Georgina Dowey, 46, was strangled to death in a house in Neath Port Talbot.

Her on-off boyfriend Matthew Pickering has been jailed for life for her murder – with a minimum term of 17-and-a-half years.

The trial heard Ms Dowey’s body was found with a black bag over her head and 32 separate injuries.

Her daughter, Chelsea, said in a victim impact statement Pickering had taken her mother’s life “in the most horrific and undignified way imaginable”.

Sentencing, Judge Paul Thomas KC said: “It must have been a terrifying way for her to die, and she would have suffered not just physically but psychologically.”

Kelly Pitt was killed by her son Lewis Bush at her home in Newport.

The 44-year-old was killed in a “ferocious and sustained assault”, a court heard.

Bush has been jailed for life for the attack and will serve a minimum of 16 years.

Ms Pitt’s daughter Jordan said her mother was caring, loving, funny and bubbly and described her as a warm welcoming lady who made sure everyone was well looked-after.

A post-mortem examination found “severe blunt-force trauma to the head, neck and trunk”.

Ms Pitt suffered internal bleeding and 41 rib fractures and mirror glass and clumps of hair were found around her body.

Buddug Jones was killed in her Anglesey home by her partner of 32 years.

Colin John Milburn has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 20 years imprisonment.

The 48-year-old mum was brutally attacked which caused catastrophic head injuries.

The trial heard how Milburn had become “fixated” with the idea Ms Jones has been seeing other men.

Ms Jones’ sons Martin, John, Daniel and Adam issued a tribute calling her “the best of the best”.

“She was such a special mam, naini, sister and friend with the kindest of hearts,” they said.

Lisa Fraser, 52, was found dead at a house in Pembroke Dock.

The man who was on remand in prison accused of murdering her was found in his cell on 27 May and died in hospital the next day.

The case can no longer be tried and Judge Paul Thomas QC ordered his death be noted on the case file.

In a statement, Ms Frasers family said she was loved and cherished by all.

They added: “[She] touched the hearts of everyone she had contact with. She will be missed by everyone.

“Lisa, we hope you’re dancing in gold dust.”

Great-grandmother Mari O’Flynn, 79, was found dead at her home in Bettws near Newport.

Simon Parks murdered and sexually assaulted Mrs O’Flynn, who was his partner’s “vulnerable and frail mother”.

He was jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years.

In a statement, Mrs O’Flynn’s family said: “We will always try to remember mam for her sparkle, repeating her funny stories about the good times she had living in Greece, or hogging the TV to watch all the sport, whilst drinking endless cups of tea.”

Margaret Barnes, 71, from Birmingham, died while visiting Barmouth, Gwynedd.

David Redfern, 46 was found guilty of murdering her, after she mistook his home for a B&B and got into his bed.

He dragged her downstairs by her feet before kicking and stamping her to death.

She died at the scene and Redfern was given a life sentence at Caernarfon Crown Court with a minimum of 14 years.

A pathologist told the jury Mrs Barnes’ injuries were the sort they would expect to see in a car crash.

Mrs Barnes’ family said she was a much-loved wife, mother and grandmother.

“We now have some sort of closure on what has happened however no length of sentence will ever fill the void that Margaret has left behind,” they said.

Wendy Buckney, 71, a retired horse riding instructor was killed by her neighbour.

She became Brian Whitelock’s third victim.

In 2001 he was jailed for killing two men, including his brother, and he was found guilty of Wendy Buckney’s murder on 27 November 2024.

Ms Buckney had paid the Whitelock to perform odd jobs around her home.

Swansea Crown Court heard at the trial in November how her family was concerned about him working for her, but she had told them: “Everyone deserves a second chance.”

The court also heard Whitelock used a knife, table leg and items of shelving to kill Ms Buckney.

Det Ch Insp Matthew Davies, who led the investigation, described Whitelock as a “monster”.

Whitelock will be sentenced on 20 December 2024.

“Much-loved daughter, sister, mother, grandmother and auntie” Angie White was killed by her husband.

David White kicked open a locked bedroom door, strangled her and cut her throat.

He then fled the house in Swansea before phoning police to confess. He was given a life sentence of at least 20 years and 10 months for murder.

The court heard how White had a long history of domestic violence, including against Mrs White.

At the time of the murder, he was on licence from prison after receiving a 10-year extended sentence for rape and assault.

Her family said: “Nothing can bring our beloved Angie back. We shall miss that silly giggle for evermore.”

Linda Maggs, 74, was stabbed at least 15 times in her neck, chest and hands by her husband.

David Maggs, a retired accountant, murdered his wife as she lay in bed at their home in Pontypool, Torfaen.

He was sentenced to life with 20 years’ minimum imprisonment. He died earlier this year in prison from a heart attack.

Maggs admitted manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility but was found guilty of murder.

In the summer of 2020 Linda told David she wanted a divorce. She spoke to a solicitor and began divorce proceedings.

In a victim impact statement Mrs Maggs’ son, Andrew Minahan, said the murder had turned their lives upside down saying the family was left sickened.

“Our mum was the best mum, nan and friend you could wish for,” he said.

“Now she has gone. She was a massive part of our lives, she was always there for us.”

David Arnold killed his wife Christina Arnold, 71 at their isolated cottage at Morvil, near New Inn, Pembrokeshire.

The 81-year-old suffocated his wife with a plastic bag before taking his own life, an inquest heard.

Their bodies were found by police on 16 February after a letter was received from Arnold, where his stated his intention to kill his wife then take his life.

They had four children and six grandchildren who they did not have a close relationship with, but “loved their family”.

Coroner Paul Bennett said it was “not entirely clear why Mr Arnold took steps to end his and his wife’s life”.

He said the couple had died in circumstances that were “particularly tragic and distressing”.

Sixteen-year-old Wenjing Lin was murdered in a Chinese takeaway in Treorchy, Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Chun Xu, 32, has been jailed for a minimum of 30 years for her murder.

While handing down the sentence at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court, judge Paul Thomas told Xu: “You killed her as a wicked act of revenge upon her mother.”

The judge added Wenjing had had a life of infinite promise and all that potential that was now unfulfillable.

The trial heard Xu was considered to be a close family friend but he owed them money and wanted “revenge” on Wenjing’s mother.

Wenjing’s mother, Meifang Xu, told the court via an interpreter that even though her daughter was no longer here, “every morning I still wake up and make her breakfast. I still make her a cup of tea every night and put it in her empty bedroom”.

Kerry Bradford, 57, from Bettws, Newport, died when husband Nicholas stabbed her on the head, neck, back and arms.

Nicholas Bradford was also found dead after taking his own life.

At a Newport inquest, coroner Caroline Saunders recorded a conclusion of unlawful killing for Mrs Bradford and suicide for her husband, also 57.

Police went to the couple’s house after Bradford’s death, finding Mrs Bradford on the sofa in the living room.

The couple had been married for almost 38 years but had been living separately following issues in their relationship.

Senior coroner Caroline Saunders said: “This is a sad and extremely tragic case and a waste of two lives.

“This was a vicious attack. It was no accident.”

Jade Ward, 27, was murdered by her estranged husband.

She was stabbed and strangled in her Flintshire home by Russell Marsh as their four children slept.

He was given a life sentence and must serve a minimum of 25 years for the “merciless attack”.

Her family campaigned after her death to strip parental rights from those who have acted out murder, which was passed in 2023 in Jade’s name.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “It shouldn’t be the case that if someone murders their partner they still have rights over their children.”

Ms Ward’s mum Karen Robinson said: “Jade was such a beautiful soul… who has left such a legacy for other families.”

“Bright and talented artist” Lily Sullivan was murdered after refusing to have sex with a man.

The 18-year-old was killed after she walked home from a nightclub, with 31-year-old Lewis Haines admitting murder but claiming it was not sexually motivated.

He has been jailed for life and will serve a minimum of 23 years and four months.

Ms Sullivan’s body was found in Mill Pond, Pembroke, in the early hours of 17 December 2021.

Her mother Anna said: “I miss her so much. I will never have peace.”

Judge Paul Thomas QC told Swansea Crown Court that Haines strangled Ms Sullivan because she did not want to have sex with him.

Gwendoline Christine Bound, 80, was shot dead by her son John Bound before he took his own life.

John Bound, a farmer, had been worried he would not be able to care for his animals during lockdown.

Acting senior coroner Paul Bennett told Mrs Bound’s inquest: “There must have been something that triggered John to get his shotgun,” but added there was no suggestion it was premeditated or planned.

He concluded Mrs Bound had been unlawfully killed and Bound’s death was suicide.

He said the deaths had “undoubtedly left their family utterly devastated”, adding: “I hope they are reminded of how they lived their lives and not how they tragically died.”

Ruth Williams, 67, was killed by her husband Anthony Williams.

She was found at their home, and later pronounced dead at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport.

Williams told police he had “choked the living daylights” out of Ms Williams after an argument.

He was found not guilty of murdering his wife but Williams, who had anxiety and depression, admitted to manslaughter by diminished responsibility.

A psychiatrist told Swansea Crown Court that Williams’s mental health had dramatically deteriorated after retiring in 2019, and the coronavirus pandemic had made things worse.

Judge Paul Thomas said it was a “tragic case on several levels”.

Helen Bannister was subjected to “years of terror” by her partner, before he killed her in a “ferocious and merciless” attack.

Jonathan Campbell pleaded guilty to murder at Swansea Crown Court.

They had been in a relationship for five years and the court heard Bannister had a history of violence against women, having faced three previous abuse charges, including a case involving Ms Bannister, who was a mother.

The family said afterwards in a statement: “Our whole lives have changed and destroyed.

“It feels like a horrible nightmare and doesn’t feel real. What has happened will affect us for the rest of our lives.”

She was “young at heart and full of life”.

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