UK heir to bakery empire stabs friend 37 times on Christmas eve; get life imprisonment

Hours before killing his best friend, Thomas who checked details about the anatomy of a human neck, later admitted to manslaughter but denied murder.

Dylan Thomas (24) who is an heir to pie company Peter's Pie's has been sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering his friend in United Kingdom on December 24, 2023.

According to a report by BBC, William Bush (23) was stabbed 37 times by Thomas using a large kitchen knife and a flick knife.

Hours before killing his best friend, Thomas checked details about the anatomy of a human neck and later admitted to manslaughter but denied murder.

Thomas' grandfather Sir Stanley Thomas made his fortune along with his brother through Wales-based Peter's Pies.

According to the publication's report, Stanley's brother was also present in the court during Thomas' sentencing where it was announced that the 24-year-old will serve minimum 19 years of imprisonment before being eligible for release.

The jury spent three hours in establishing that Thomas was guilty of murder in November.

On January 24, 2025, Thomas, who is being treated for schizophrenia and psychosis at the Ashworth Hospital in Liverpool, appeared online before the court using a video link.

During the sentencing, Thomas sat emotionless and spoke enough to confirm that he could hear the judge.

According to BBC, judge Karen Steyn who called the murder a 'sustained and ferocious knife attack' on 'a young man who had been a firm and loyal friend', said, "He was a compassionate, loving, witty and vibrant young man. He had a bright future ahead of him."

Steyn said that Bush was 'senselessly murdered' depriving him of 'many, many decades of a happy and fulfilling life'.

Adding that Thomas' sentence 'wasn't intended as a measure of the value of Bush's life', saying that it was 'beyond measure'.

Sister of deceased Bush, Cartin said that her brother was killed 'in the most barbaric and cruel way'.

According to BBC, she said, "Will was such a loyal, funny and caring person, he lit up every room he walked into with his cheeky grin. My family has been left with a massive hole which will never be filled."

Bush's father also said, "Christmas will not be a time of celebration for our family for many years."

Bush's girlfriend, Ella Jefferies said that with her boyfriend's death she 'lost a future they both had planned and prepared for'.

She told the court that Bush was a big supporter of Arsenal football club and was fit and active, playing golf for his home county of Powys and running the Cardiff Half Marathon with her in 2023.

Ella added, "Will was the love of my life and meant everything to me. He would light up any room he walked in to. Life will never be the same without Will."

The Cardiff Crown Court was told by the prosecution that though Thomas was in a 'downward spiral', but he was in control of his actions at the time of the murder.

On the morning of December 24, 2023, Thomas was driven to Llandaff by his grandmother Sharon Burton and when she parked outside his house which he shared with Bush, he entered the property, collected the knives and stabbed his friend repeatedly.

According to the publication's report, Thomas after the attack dialed 999 for an ambulance asserting that Bush had 'gone mental' and stabbed him.

The prosecution on the other hand told the court that the murder was a 'planned attack' on Bush as Thomas 'knowingly attacked his friend from behind'.

The jury was also told that Thomas told police officers after his arrest that 'he was Jesus' and also offered one of the cops a 'job with God'.

According to BBC, Judge Steyn said, "It must have been particularly terrifying and horrifying for Mr Bush to be attacked in his home, indeed, in his own bedroom by one of his closest friends. He could be heard to scream and cry, and he plainly struggled to fend off your brutal assault."

Orlando Pownall who was defending Thomas said that there was no 'significant degree of planning or premeditation'.

According to the publication's report, after the sentencing Chris Evans of the Crown Prosecution Service said, "The 'frenzied attack' was a 'shocking' level of violence. Thomas's actions on the lead up to the murder 'demonstrated he was thinking clearly and gave an indication of his intention'."

"Bush was 'killed by someone he regarded as his friend having done nothing to warrant the brutal violence inflicted upon him'," Detective Constable Joanne Harris of South Wales Police said.