Man convicted of murdering Gibraltar soldier

A Welsh boxer who claimed he was “the hardest man in town” was today convicted of murdering a local soldier during a night out in Wales.

Private Matthew Boyd, 20, of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, died in the barracks town of Brecon, South Wales, in the early hours of May 8.

Pte Boyd was chased, punched to the ground and beaten before his body was dragged and dumped in the road.

Jake Vallely, 24, had denied murder but was found guilty following a three week trial at Cardiff Crown Court.

He will be sentenced on December 8.

A second man, 23-year old Aaron Evans was cleared of manslaughter.

A statement from the family of Pte Boyd was read out by a family liaison officer outside the court following the verdict.

“He was born prematurely and he was taken from us prematurely, in the blink of an eye without warning,” his family said.

“Jake Vallely has created a void in our family that will never be filled. He has taken our son, our brother, our grandson and our friend with no reason and no excuse.”

“No punishment will justify his actions as our son will never knock at our door again, we will never be able to feel his kiss in our hearts again.”

“This unbearable pain is something we will have to live with for the rest of our lives.”

“During this trial it has been mentioned that Jake Vallely called himself the hardest man in Brecon on the night that he murdered our Matthew.”

“He could not have been more wrong.”

The family thanked the community of Brecon adding that the town will remain in their hearts.

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