A woman has admitted killing a "loving, doting" man who was found dead with a stab wound at his home. Carrie McGuinness has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Steven John Davies having previously denied the charge.
Mr Davies was found dead by a neighbour just after 11am on June 15 at his home in Glyncoch, near Pontypridd. A post-mortem examination later confirmed the 39-year-old had died from a stab wound.
His partner Carrie McGuinness was arrested on suspicion of his murder and previously entered not guilty pleas to that charge and one of manslaughter. But at the first day of her trial at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday, the 34-year-old defendant pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
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Defence barrister Nicholas Rhodes KC said his client had pleaded on a basis of diminished responsibility. He said McGuinness is suffering from severe alcohol dependence syndrome which caused an "abnormality of mental function" and "impaired her ability to exercise self control". The barrister said: "Her actions may well have been affected by that condition".
Prosecutor Jonathan Rees KC said he accepted the medical evidence produced in psychiatric reports and said the Crown accepted the defendant's plea. He formally offered no evidence for the murder charge.
McGuinness remained emotionless as Mr Justice Kerr remanded her into custody. She will be sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on January 20 next year.
Following his death, the family of Mr Davies, nicknamed Hagi, released a tribute. His mother Donna and sister Adrianne said: "My beautiful baby boy who has been tragically taken from us. We are heartbroken and absolutely devastated. Our lives have been ripped apart and destroyed and will never ever be the same again.
“Steven had a heart of gold and would help anyone before thinking of himself and always have time for anyone. He was a polite and well-mannered young man. He was a loving, doting brother to Adrianne, they were each other’s world.
"Hagi was loved by all his family and friends and by anyone who met him. He was popular and so loved in the Rhondda and Pontypridd areas. You will always be in our hearts and never forgotten. Fly high with Daddy our boy xx.”
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