Live updates as killer of 'kind-hearted' woman found dead at home sentenced

A man who admitted killing a "kind-hearted" woman who was found dead in her home after a worried family member raised the alarm will be sentenced today. Luke Deeley, 26, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of 65-year-old June Fox-Roberts who was found dead at her home in Llantwit Fardre, near Pontypridd, on November 21, 2021. Police officers were called to the home in St Anne’s Drive after being contacted by a concerned family member.

Deeley was charged with murder but his not guilty plea was accepted by the Crown and he admitted an alternative count of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. At that hearing prosecutor John Hipkin KC said Deeley had been sectioned under section 45 of the Mental Health Act and had been remanded in a psychiatric hospital. He said three psychiatric reports had been prepared and were of the same opinion that Deeley was suffering an "abnormality of mind" – namely paranoid schizophrenia – at the time of Mrs Fox-Roberts' death.

It was agreed that Deeley's ability to understand the nature of his conduct, to form a rational judgement, and to exercise self-control was "substantially impaired" as a result of his condition. Mr Justice Griffiths will sentence Deeley at Newport Crown Court this afternoon.

Speaking at the time of Ms Fox-Roberts' death her family said: "We are in utter shock about the death of our mother... She was a kind-hearted, generous woman who was never happier than when with family and friends around her. She loved her family dearly and we will never be the same. We are heartbroken.”

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