Dylan Thomas, the heir to a multi-million-pound pie company fortune, has been sentenced to life in prison for the brutal murder of his childhood friend, William Bush. The 24-year-old was convicted for stabbing Bush 37 times on Christmas Eve 2023. He will serve at least 19 years in prison before being eligible for parole.
The horrific crime unfolded on December 24, when Thomas asked his grandmother to drive him to his friend’s house in Llandaff, Cardiff. He claimed he wanted to walk his dog, but once inside, he violently attacked Bush, stabbing him in the neck, chest, head, and back. Neighbors reported hearing screams of terror as Thomas emerged covered in blood and knocked on the car door where his grandmother waited.
Thomas, who is the grandson of Sir Stanley Thomas, the founder of Peter’s Pies and a billionaire with a net worth of £230 million, showed no remorse during the trial. He had even researched human anatomy online before carrying out the attack. The court heard that the murder was not premeditated, though Thomas had a history of erratic behavior, including a prior arrest for attempting to break into Buckingham Palace in search of “energy fields.”
William Bush, who was just 23 years old at the time of his death, was remembered by his family as a bright, talented young man with a promising future. His sister, Catrin, described him as “loyal, funny, and caring” and expressed her heartbreak over his untimely death. Bush was a skilled golfer who had represented his country in the sport and was planning a future with his girlfriend, Ella Jefferies. She spoke of the profound loss, saying the crime had stolen their shared dreams of marriage, family, and a life together.
Bush’s father, in a tearful statement to the court, expressed the immense pain of losing his son in such a violent and senseless manner. “The knowledge that Will lost his life in the most unnecessary and pitiful way, not surrounded by those he loved, hurts us beyond words,” he said.
Despite his defense team’s claim that Thomas may have acted out of rage during a psychotic episode, the court rejected claims of diminished responsibility. Dr. Panchu Xavier, a forensic psychiatrist, testified that Thomas had likely been experiencing psychosis for months prior to the murder. However, Judge Justice Steyn ruled that although Thomas’ mental health condition lowered his culpability, it did not excuse the severity of his actions.
Justice Steyn emphasized that the murder had devastated Bush’s family, robbing them of a talented young man with a bright future. She sentenced Thomas to life in prison, stating, “You took a son away from his mother and father and deprived his loved ones of the future they had hoped for.”
As Thomas continues treatment for schizophrenia at Ashworth Hospital in Liverpool, the tragic murder serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of mental illness and the devastating consequences of violence.