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A daughter who stabbed and killed her mother’s best friend during a drunken family row has been jailed for life.

Rebecca Press, 31, killed Richard Marc Ash, 57, at her mother Michelle’s home in Long Row, Elliots Town, New Tredegar, by plunging a 7.5cm kitchen knife into his chest.

She had originally denied a charge of murder, but at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday January 23 she changed her plea and admitted the killing.

Press, of Second Avenue, Trecenydd, originally claimed she acted in self defence and denied charges of murder and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

She has now been sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum of 20 years behind bars.

Tributes to an “intelligent, kind, gentle and funny” father

Following the sentencing, Mr Ash’s family released the following statement: “I would like this opportunity to say some words on behalf of my Dad.

“I loved my father and cannot believe that he has been so cruelly taken from my life.

“My father was intelligent, kind, gentle and funny with an in-depth knowledge of music and other subjects which he introduced me to. I share similar interests to my father.

“I hope to study Law as a career and my father will never see me go to university, graduate, or start a family. He didn’t see me reach my 18^th birthday, pass my driving test or exams of which I know he would be proud.

“All these opportunities I have been denied and will have to live with the fact that I no longer have a father for the rest of my life.”

Mr Ash’s parents said: “Marc’s life was tragically taken from him. His family and friends are devastated by his shocking demise.

“He was a gentle soul; unassuming in his demeanour; a gentleman. To simply say he will be sadly missed is an understatement but we have indeed been blessed to have him.”

Detective Superintendent Michelle Chaplin, of Gwent Police, described Mr Ash’s murder as a “tragic and senseless incident which led to the death of a loved man.”

DS Chaplin continued: “The family of Marc Ash have been left devastated by their loss and have had to hear distressing details about their loved ones’ death through the court trial as they sought to get justice for Marc’s death.

“I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Marc’s family and friends for their courage, dignity and support throughout our investigation. No sentence can make up for their loss, our thoughts remain with them.”

What happened?

During evidence given in the first week of the trial, Cardiff Crown Court was told how Press had spent most of July 16 last year drinking in her mother’s garden with family friend Mr Ash and other neighbours.

Known as Marc, innocent Mr Ash had tried to calm Press down after she headbutted her mother Michelle.

Press had picked up a 7.5cm kitchen knife and plunged it into the chest of family friend Richard Marc Ash in July last year.

The court heard Press had split with boyfriend Ashley Allen in the days leading up to the attack and had been invited to stay with her mum.

Prosecutor Jonathan Rees KC said Press was “becoming increasingly frustrated” as she sent a string of messages to her brother Gavin Press in a bid to find out Mr Allen’s whereabouts.

The court heard Press suspected Mr Allen had been cheating on her – and she sparked a row when brother Gavin turned up to their mum’s home at 12.30am on July 17.

Mr Rees said: “She began screaming at her brother Gavin, asking him to tell her who his friend, Ashley Allen, had been ‘shagging’.

“Michelle Press shouted at them both to be quiet or to leave.”

The court heard Press, who had taken Valium, thought her mum Michelle had spat at her during the family row – so she “lunged forward” and smashed her teeth against her mother’s nose.

Cardiff Crown Court heard mum Michelle escaped to her bedroom while Mr Ash shouted: “Will you just calm down Bec, what is wrong with you?”.

The court heard Mr Ash dialled 999 but the call was cut off and police called him back just before 1am.

He told officers it was “kicking off” at his neighbour’s home because there were two people who were not wanted there.

Mum Michelle then called 999 at 1.07am to say her daughter had “gone nuts and headbutted her” and asked the police to send someone quickly.

The court heard just moments later Press “burst into the bedroom in a rage” and screamed at her mum: “I have stabbed your f***ing best friend”.

Michelle then made another call just two minutes later to request an ambulance because “someone had been stabbed.”

The court heard Press left a voicemail for her ex Mr Allen at 1.15am to say: “Ash it’s really bad. It’s really f***ing bad. I’ve just stabbed someone and killed them.

“I’ve just murdered someone, please phone me now. F*** (screams). I’ve just murdered someone”.

The court heard the attack came after Press and victim Mr Ash had earlier visited the nearby rugby club and the Dynevor Arms pub.

When police arrived, the court was told, they noticed a drawer in the kitchen had been emptied on the floor. A Tesco branded KP/9 knife was found near the fridge covered in Mr Ash’s blood.

“Looking around the kitchen quickly, the officers saw that a drawer from one of the kitchen units had been pulled out and emptied on to the floor, with knives and forks everywhere.”

Emergency Response Doctor, Dr Matt O’Meara, arrived at the scene at 1.44am but Mr Ash’s injuries were found to be “unsurvivable” and he was pronounced dead at 2am.

The court heard Press attempted to hide from police while ringing her ex-partner’s mum Stephanie Allen in a bid to get help escaping – but she refused.

Police spotted Press walking near to the address at 3.14am before she was arrested and feigned surprise saying: “What, has someone died?”