Three people stand trial for murder of 'loving father' who died with stab wounds - live updates

Three people are due to stand trial for the murder of a "loving father" who died as result of stab wounds just days before Christmas. Two women and a man also face trial for assisting one of the alleged killers and for perverting the course of justice.

Daniel Rae, 30, died in a property in Princess Street, in Treforest, on the evening of December 17 last year. Following an investigation led by South Wales Police's major crime team, Kieran Carter, 22, from Birmingham, Kian Rowlands, 18, of Garth Avenue, Glyncoch, Pontypridd, and a 17-year-old who cannot be named, were arrested and charged with murder.

Grace Dresser, 21, of Heath Road, Bradfield Southend, Reading, is charged with assisting an offender and perverting the course of justice.

Chad Joy, 33, of Woodland Road, Glyncorrwg, Neath Port Talbot, and Amy Jones, 35, of Derwendeg, Avenue, Glyncoch, Pontypridd, are charge with assisting an offender, with Joy also charged with perverting the course of justice.

The trial is taking place at Cardiff Crown Court in front of His Honour Mr Justice Nicklin. The hearing is estimated to last six weeks.

At the time of Mr Rae's death, his family paid tribute to their loved one. In a statement they said: "Daniel, our son, brother, and loving father has been taken away from us far too soon and we are truly devastated. He had a huge, and the warmest, heart, having such a caring, funny, and loving personality. He loved his family and friends, always putting them first.

"We will miss you unconditionally and we were so blessed to have you in our lives, we always treasure the memories we made together. We will always love you, and we need time to grieve and get over the shock of losing Daniel in this horrible way."