Rebecca Press jailed for at least 20 years in Wales

• Marc Ash, 57, was stabbed by Rebecca Press, 31, in July 2017 at her mother’s house.
• Michelle Press stabbed her ex-boyfriend’s best friend to death with a kitchen knife.
• Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said she caused “terrible grief” to the victim’s family.

A lady who fatally killed the best friend of her mother has been given a life sentence in Wales. Marc Ash, 57, was stabbed by Rebecca Press, 31, in July 2017 at her mother’s Long Row, Elliot’s Town, residence.

She reportedly consumed a lot of alcohol and used drugs, including ecstasy and benzodiazepines, on the day of the murder, Cardiff Crown Court was informed.

In her original denial of murder, Press later amended it throughout her trial. She is required to serve a minimum of 20 years.

Press, who was from Trecenydd in Caerphilly county, had come to stay the weekend at her mother’s apartment on the day of the murder after breaking up with her boyfriend.

Her mother’s closest friend and neighbor was Mr. Ash.

Press and Mr. Ash had been out drinking together earlier that day at the local pub and rugby club, according to testimony given in court.

But after calling Michelle Press to inform her that Press was “playing up” and to add, “I can’t handle with her,” Mr. Ash went back home.

He returned to the apartment, where he and Press’ mother watched a movie.

The brother said in court that his sister “said stuff in rage” while intoxicated, agitated, and angry over their separation.

Press’ mother claimed that despite repeated requests for her daughter to cool off, Press instead became angrier and accused her of spitting in her face.

The mother told the court: “She gripped my arm, I saw teeth, I thought she was going to bite me.”

The mother told the court she went to her bedroom to call the police and treat her bleeding nose, which had caught on Press’ tooth.

While she was doing this, Mr. Ash tried to calm Press down.

Press’ brother said that his sister took a small knife from the kitchen drawer and was threatening to stab him with it.

He said that Mr. Ash “walked into” the blade while trying to intervene.

The court heard a 7.5cm (3in) blade was plunged into Mr. Ash’s chest, and the rapid blood loss led to cardiac arrest.

In a video interview played to the jury, Press’ mother described how her daughter told her: “I just stabbed your best friend to death.”

The court was told she later left a voicemail on her ex-partner’s phone saying “I’ve just stabbed someone and killed them. I’ve just murdered someone, please phone me now.”

Sentencing Press, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, the Recorder of Cardiff, said: “It is clear you have caused the most terrible grief to Mr. Ash’s family.”

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