A woman who confessed to her ex-boyfriend that she had murdered her mum's best friend in a chilling voicemail has today been jailed for life.
Rebecca Press, 31, was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of the murder of Marc Ash, 57, in July 2022.
Press initially denied murder but dramatically changed her plea midway through the trial to admit her guilt.
The court heard Press picked up a 7.5cm blade before she plunged it "up to the handle" into the chest of Mr Ash just a fraction from his heart.
Innocent Mr Ash had tried to calm down Press after a booze-fuelled family row after drinking in the garden.
Cardiff Crown Court heard Mr Ash had called 999 but "paid the price with his life" when he was stabbed.
Mr Ash suffered a cardiac arrest and despite the best efforts of the emergency services, his injuries were considered unsurvivable and he was declared dead within an hour of being stabbed.
Meanwhile, Press had left the flat in Long Row and was hiding in nearby bushes.
Press then left a chilling voicemail to her ex-boyfriend, where she could be heard crying and screaming as she says: "Ash it’s really bad. It’s really f***ing bad. I’ve just stabbed someone and killed them.
"I’ve just murdered someone, please phone me now. F*** (screams). I’ve just murdered someone."
Prosecutor Jonathan Rees KC said Press had spent the day drinking in mum Michelle's garden with Mr Ash, 57 and other neighbours in July last year.
But she flew into a rage hours later when she returned from the pub and headbutted her own mum during a family bust-up in New Tredegar, Gwent, Wales.
Mr Rees said: "Rebecca Press had picked up a knife and stabbed Richard Marc Ash with it, just above his heart.
"Mr Ash, known as Marc, was unarmed. The full length of the blade - up to the handle - plunged into his chest, some 7.5cms or so, and pierced the aortic arch above his heart.
"Mr Ash rapidly lost blood from that injury to the aortic arch, leading to his cardiac arrest and death."
The court heard Press had split with boyfriend Ashley Allen in the days leading up to the attack and had been invited to stay with her mum.
Mr Rees said Press had been "becoming increasingly frustrated" as she sent a string of messages to her brother Gavin Press in a bid to find out Mr Allen's whereabouts.
The court heard Press suspected Mr Allen had been cheating on her - and she sparked a row when brother Gavin turned up to their mum's home at 12.30am on July 17.
Mr Rees said: "She began screaming at her brother Gavin, asking him to tell her who his friend, Ashley Allen, had been 'shagging'.
"Michelle Press shouted at them both to be quiet or to leave."
The court heard Press, who had taken Valium, thought her mum Michelle had spat at her during the family row - so she "lunged forward" and smashed her teeth against her mother's nose.
Mum Michelle escaped to her bedroom while Mr Ash shouted: "Will you just calm down Bec, what is wrong with you?"
He dialled 999 but the call was cut off and police called him back just before 1am.
Mr Ash told officers it was "kicking off" at his neighbour's home because there were two people who were not wanted there.
Mum Michelle then called 999 at 1.07am to say her daughter had "gone nuts and headbutted her" and asked the police to send someone quickly.
The court heard just moments later Press "burst into the bedroom in a rage" and screamed at her mum: "I have stabbed your f***ing best friend".
Michelle then made another call just two minutes later to request an ambulance because "someone had been stabbed". The court heard Press left a voicemail for her ex Mr Allen at 1.15am.
Following her arrest, a urine sample was taken and substances including alcohol, bromazolam and etizolam, amphetamine, MDMA and THC. More than 600 tablets containing MDMA and bromazolam were found in her possession.
A victim's personal statement from Mr Ash's parents said he was "a quiet, gentle, loving, generous person."
It said: "Since his death in such traumatic circumstances we have been devastated, to say we are missing him would be a great understatement.
"We have found normal everyday life very burdensome, feeling really isolated and unable to cope. Due in no small way to our grief as well as our age (82) and disabilities.
"We miss Marc daily because; we cannot see his quirky smile; his loving and caring nature whilst helping us both when visits to the doctor, hospital, dentist, optician are necessary; we relied on him to assist with shopping. His help and kindness has been invaluable.
"We both feel that whatever happens during the court procedure nothing will bring our ray of sunshine back to his family. We are absolutely heartbroken and miss every hair on his head."
Jailing her for life with a minimum of 20 years, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said: "I have heard the victim personal statements. It's clear you have caused the most terrible grief to Mr Ash's family."
Following the hearing, Millie Davies of the Crown Prosecution Service said: "Rebecca Press killed Marc Ash, her mother’s neighbour and best friend, in a senseless act of gratuitous violence whilst under the influence of drink and drugs.
"During the course of the evidence being presented to the jury by the CPS, Press decided to change her plea, pleading guilty to murder.
"Marc Ash was simply trying to help a friend in distress, a decision which tragically cost him his life. Our thoughts remain with his family and friends."
Mr Ash's family said: "I would like this opportunity to say some words on behalf of my Dad. I loved my father and cannot believe that he has been so cruelly taken from my life.
"My father was intelligent, kind, gentle and funny with an in-depth knowledge of music and other subjects which he introduced me to. I share similar interests to my father.
"I hope to study Law as a career and my father will never see me go to university, graduate, or start a family. He didn’t see me reach my 18th birthday, pass my driving test or exams of which I know he would be proud.
"All these opportunities I have been denied and will have to live with the fact that I no longer have a father for the rest of my life."
The victim's parents added: "Marc’s life was tragically taken from him. His family and friends are devastated by his shocking demise.
"He was a gentle soul; unassuming in his demeanour; a gentleman. To simply say he will be sadly missed is an understatement but we have indeed been blessed to have him."
Detective Superintendent Michelle Chaplin said: "This is a tragic and senseless incident which led to the death of a loved man.
"The family of Marc Ash have been left devastated by their loss and have had to hear distressing details about their loved ones' death through the court trial as they sought to get justice for Marc's death.
"I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Marc’s family and friends for their courage, dignity and support throughout our investigation. No sentence can make up for their loss, our thoughts remain with them."
