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Man guilty of murdering fiancee before partially wrapping her body in cling film

Rowlands waited a day before reporting the incident - taking his girlfriend's money and trying to set up a Netflix account.

Police body cam footage showed Rowlands looking very composed during his arrest Pic: Facebook/South Wales Police
Image: Police body cam footage showed Rowlands looking very composed during his arrest. Pic: South Wales Police
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A man has been found guilty of murdering his fiancee at their home, and then partially wrapping her body in cling film.  

Madog Rowlands from Wrexham denied murdering 21-year-old Lauren Griffiths in their Cardiff flat last year.

He was found guilty by a unanimous jury decision at Newport Crown Court on Thursday.

Rowlands Pic: Facebook/South Wales Police
Image: 21-year-old Lauren Griffiths was murdered and partially wrapped in cling film. Pic: South Wales Police

Rowlands, 23, strangled Griffiths but waited more than a day before dialling 999, the jury heard.

During this time, he took money out of both of their bank accounts, bought and consumed cannabis and MDMA, ordered takeaways and attempted to set up a Netflix account, prosecutors said.

Rowlands waited more than 24 hours to alert emergency services about his fiancee, after killing her in the early hours of 29 April last year.

Rowlands Pic: Facebook/South Wales Police
Image: Rowlands leaving their home having left Ms Griffiths' body for 24 hours. Pic: South Wales Police

He denied murder and claimed in court that he had killed Ms Griffiths in self-defence.

More from Cardiff

In the 999 call heard by the jury, Rowlands could be heard telling the police: "I've killed my fiancee by mistake."

This was followed by him saying "she's dead", before adding "I've strangled her".

Police body camera footage shows a composed Rowlands being arrested, where he admits this is not the first time he had been arrested "for attacking Lauren".

"It was a strangling again," Rowlands told the officer.

Rowlands Pic: Facebook/South Wales Police
Image: Detective Inspector Stuart Wales said Ms Griffiths had a 'bright and promising future'. Pic: South Wales Police

Detective Inspector Stuart Wales, from South Wales Police major crime investigation team, said: "Lauren was a much-loved daughter and sister who had a bright and promising future.

"Her family have shown tremendous patience and dignity during this long and heart-breaking ordeal. We hope they can now begin to recover and rebuild their lives.

"At no time did he show any meaningful concern for Lauren's welfare or dignity.

"We would like to thank all the witnesses who assisted the investigation, the community of Cathays, as well as the prosecution team."

Rowlands will be sentenced on 8 January.