Teenager Corey Gauci faces life in jail for murdering dad-of-seven
Gauci, 19, left Mr Richards, 48, with fatal damage to the femoral artery and vein. Gauci had become involved in an argument between former couple Noreen O'Driscoll and Christian Morgan which saw two groups travelling to an area of Ely in Cardiff, some armed with knives.
Morgan had previously been in a relationship with James O'Driscoll's sister Noreen O'Driscoll, 29, but she had become jealous after he began seeing another woman. Prosecutor David Elias KC told the trial Noreen O'Driscoll had sent threatening and insulting messages to Morgan and had threatened to damage his car.
At around 10.45pm on April 7, 2024 Morgan was seen on CCTV in possession of a knife. He called Mr Richards who arrived at the scene in his Audi in possession of a hammer and drove Morgan to Heol Trelai in Ely.
Upon arriving at Heol y Berllan the court heard James O'Driscoll and and Gauci were armed with knives and wearing balaclavas. Mr Richards and Morgan were seen hiding in a cut-through on to Heol y Berllan and were seen to move towards the Nissan Qashqai. Mr Elias said damage was caused to the Qashqai and broken glass was later found in the street. Two men from the Qashqai, whom the prosecution claimed were Gauci and Mr O'Driscoll, were seen to enter the cut-through.
The court heard James O'Driscoll chased Morgan and Mr Richards with Morgan chased to the Highfields pub by O'Driscoll while Gauci and Mr Richards remained near the Audi. When Morgan reached the car he saw Mr Richards bleeding from his wound in the passenger seat and called 999. The police and ambulance arrived at 11.32pm and resuscitation attempts were made but Mr Richards was declared dead at 12.22am on April 8.
(Image: Family photograph)
Following a trial at Cardiff Crown Court a jury found Gauci, of Wilson Road in Ely, guilty of murder and violent disorder on Wednesday, April 9. Soraya Somersall, 44, of Loudon Square, Butetown, was found guilty of assisting an offender. James O'Driscoll, 27, of no fixed abode, was found guilty of violent disorder and of having an article with a blade or point. Christian Morgan, 36, of Heol y Berllan, Ely, was found guilty of having an article with a blade or point. The jury were unable to reach a verdict in respect of a charge of violent disorder.
Noreen O'Driscoll, 29, of Parker Road, Ely, was found guilty of assisting an offender. Rebecca Ross, 44, of Newark Road, Lincoln, was found guilty of assisting an offender and having an article with a blade or point.
Gauci and his co-defendants are being sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on May 23.
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