JAMES O’NEILL, 53, from Merthyr Tydfil, was found guilty of wounding/inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent at Swansea Crown Court on Friday (Dec 13). His co-defendants, Aron O’Neill, 25, and Shaun Nicholas, 24, were acquitted after the jury ruled that their actions were in self-defence.

The charges arose from a violent altercation at The Boat House pub in Saundersfoot on October 28, 2022. The complainant, Stephen Kanauros, had been celebrating his daughter’s birthday with his family when tensions escalated, leading to a brutal attack that left Mr. Kanauros with serious injuries.

During the trial, the jury was shown CCTV footage and graphic images of Mr. Kanauros’ injuries. Prosecutors revealed that James O’Neill bit off part of Mr. Kanauros’ lip during the altercation, with the severed section later found on the pub floor. O’Neill also bit the complainant’s finger, causing further significant injuries.

Prosecutor Dyfed Thomas KC argued that James O’Neill’s actions were deliberate and intended to cause serious harm. “He intended to cause harm—really serious harm—and he certainly achieved it,” Mr. Thomas said.

The violence reportedly stemmed from James O’Neill’s anger after bar staff questioned his daughter, Lowri O’Neill, about her ID. When staff asked the group to leave, James O’Neill responded aggressively, directing offensive language at the staff and blowing vape smoke at them.

Co-defendants cleared

While James O’Neill was found guilty, his co-defendants, Aron O’Neill and Shaun Nicholas, successfully argued they acted in self-defence during the altercation. Both men testified that their actions were defensive and aimed at protecting James O’Neill.

Aron admitted throwing punches but maintained they did not connect as alleged. Shaun acknowledged striking Mr. Kanauros once but described his action as a panicked response to protect his uncle.

Their legal teams emphasized that the men’s actions were reasonable given the perceived threat to James O’Neill.

Courtroom testimony

During closing arguments, Mr. Singh, representing Shaun Nicholas, drew comparisons to Mr. Kanauros’ defence of his wife earlier in the altercation. “Shaun Nicholas acted out of a desire to protect his uncle. How is this any different from when Mr. Kanauros defended his wife?”

The jury ultimately found the two men not guilty, while James O’Neill was held solely responsible for the grievous injuries inflicted on Mr. Kanauros.

James O’Neill is scheduled to be sentenced on Friday (Jan 17) 2025.

The case has drawn significant attention due to the severity of the injuries and the dramatic CCTV evidence presented in court.

A HARROWING 999 call was played at Swansea Crown Court today (Dec 13) as the trial of a Thai mother, who admitted to killing her seven-year-old son earlier this year, concluded with her sentencing.

Papaipit Linse, 43, of 14 Upper Market Street, Haverfordwest, pleaded guilty to manslaughter on November 22 after psychiatric reports confirmed she was suffering from severe mental illness at the time of the incident.

During the trial, the court heard the disturbing emergency call Linse made at 10:44am on January 10, 2024. In the recording, Linse repeatedly told the operator: “I have killed my son. I felt totally mental, I felt like a robot, I felt totally twisted.”

CHILLING DETAILS REVEALED

The prosecution revealed that Linse had strangled her son with a leather handbag strap. She later told police she “couldn’t check for a heartbeat” after what she had done.

When officers arrived at the three-story home, they found the boy’s body on the third floor, covered with a pillow and duvet. Despite attempts to perform CPR, it was evident he had succumbed to strangulation, with the strap leaving clear marks on his neck.

At the time of the tragedy, Linse’s husband, the child’s father, was receiving treatment at a psychiatric hospital.

MENTAL ILLNESS THE EXCLUSIVE CAUSE

Psychiatric reports presented by Dr Davis, Dr Wing, and Dr Cumming concluded that Linse was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia during the incident. All three experts agreed her mental illness was the sole reason for the killing and recommended ongoing treatment.

Dr Davis, speaking for the defence, told the court: “If it wasn’t for that severe psychotic episode, the incident would not have occurred. In my opinion, she was unable to recognise the nature of what she was doing or the legality of her actions.”

The court accepted her plea of manslaughter due to diminished responsibility.

“NOT A WICKED PERSON”

In sentencing Linse to a hospital order, His Honour Judge P H Thomas addressed her mental state at the time of the tragedy, saying: “Your son was not killed by you because you are a wicked person—you are not. He died because at the time you were suffering from paranoid schizophrenia.”

He continued: “I am acutely conscious that your son has barely been mentioned by me. What happened to him was tragic.”

Judge Thomas emphasized that Linse’s responsibility was grossly affected by her illness, which rendered her incapable of comprehending her actions.

Linse, who moved to the UK from Thailand in 2017, will now receive treatment under the hospital order as recommended by psychiatric experts. Judge Thomas reserved further comment, stating that he had considered the severity of the case and the unanimous psychiatric evidence in his ruling.

POLICE COMMENT AFTER THE HEARING

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Gary Williams said: “This is a terribly sad and tragic case, and our thoughts remain very much with all those who knew and loved Louis.

““We have worked closely with the CPS and independent mental health experts who concluded that Linse was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia when she killed her son.

“I would like to thank the team of police officers and staff involved throughout the past 11 months for their diligence, professionalism and care during this emotive case, and for their efforts in ensuring a full and thorough investigation was carried out.”

The judge described Louis’ death as “unspeakably tragic” and “unbearable for many people”, adding that he hoped the sentence imposed would be understood by those who knew him.

ARON O’NEILL and his cousin, Shaun Nicholas, are standing trial at Swansea Crown Court, accused of being involved in an altercation with James O’Neill, a family member, at the Boathouse in Saundersfoot in 2022.

Nicholas, an apprentice electrician, described the evening as initially enjoyable before tensions escalated. He admitted to drinking six pints of Madri, while his cousin consumed five. “Towards the end of the night, I was slightly tipsy. We were having a great night,” he told the court.

Trouble reportedly began when Aron O’Neill was asked to leave the bar for vaping indoors, despite warnings. CCTV footage allegedly showed him vaping before he exited the premises with Nicholas and other family members. A physical confrontation followed soon after.

Nicholas recounted the altercation: “I felt a bump to the left of me and thought, what is going on? I saw the complainant, Stephen Kanauros, going for my uncle. I didn’t want him to hit my uncle.”

Aron O’Neill said he intervened when Kanauros allegedly punched his father, James O’Neill, in the face. “I hit the man a couple of times, two or three times, to defend my father,” he admitted.

CCTV footage reportedly showed Kanauros holding James O’Neill’s head. Nicholas admitted to striking Kanauros, saying, “I punched him in the face. I saw him assault my uncle. I panicked; I’ve never been in a situation like this before.” When questioned about allegations of biting, Nicholas denied it, stating, “I saw Stephen going close to my uncle’s head, but no biting.”

Aron O’Neill claimed he tried to de-escalate the situation. “The man picked me up. I said no, I don’t want anything to do with this. I then left the premises.” He denied allegations that the incident stemmed from an earlier argument between his father and bar staff, calling it “irrelevant to this incident.”

The court reviewed CCTV footage of the altercation. O’Neill disputed claims that his punches connected, asserting, “You can slow it down frame by frame. It’s completely false. I completely missed.”

During police interviews, O’Neill, who spent 13 hours in custody, said he was scared. Nicholas described the event as “still a blur,” admitting he was shocked by his actions.

Prosecutor Dyfed Thomas questioned Nicholas on whether his drinking influenced his actions. Nicholas replied, “It was a traumatic experience. I panicked. I was defending my uncle.” He acknowledged that alcohol and adrenaline might have affected his memory, saying, “I didn’t think I assaulted anyone, and I can’t remember anyone assaulting me. It partly could be because of alcohol, but also adrenaline.”

Thomas highlighted the severity of the injuries, describing the force needed to cause significant damage to Kanauros’s lip. “This was not a nibble or a bite that left teeth marks. This was a bite that removed part of the lip. How much force and determination does it take to bite a lip off?” he asked.

The defence argued the actions of the accused were acts of self-defence. Nicholas’s lawyer, Mr Singh, said, “Shaun Nicholas acted out of a desire to protect his uncle. How is this any different from when Mr Kanauros defended his wife?”

Judge Catherine Richards reminded the court, “The law of self-defence is common sense. If someone is under attack, it is reasonable to defend oneself.”

The trial continues.