Man murdered fiancée before ordering takeaway and drugs

Madog Rowlands partially wrapped Lauren Griffiths body in clingfilm before calling 999

Police body-worn footage shows a calm Rowlands being arrested by officers inside the cluttered flat where he confirms he had been arrested before ‘for attacking Lauren’ (Getty)

A man has been found guilty of murdering his fiancee before ordering a takeaway pizza and getting drugs delivered, police have said.

Madog Rowlands, 23, strangled 21-year-old Lauren Griffiths before partially wrapping her body in clingfilm at their flat in Cardiff.

On Thursday, South Wales Police said Williams was found guilty of murder by a unanimous decision following a trial at Newport Crown Court.

He had waited more than 24 hours to alert emergency services after killing Griffiths at their flat in Glynrhondda Street, Cathays, in the early hours of 29 April last year.

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Between the time of the killing and dialling 999, Rowlands withdrew cash from both their bank accounts, bought and consumed cannabis and MDMA, ordered takeaways, and tried to set up a Netflix account.

Rowlands, originally from Wrexham, had denied murder and claimed in court that he had killed Griffiths in self-defence.

He will be sentenced at Newport Crown Court on 8 January.

In the 999 call played in court, Rowlands is heard telling police: "I've killed my fiancee by mistake."

Asked by the operator about Griffiths' condition, Rowlands says "she's dead" before adding "I've strangled her".

Police body-worn footage shows a calm Rowlands being arrested by officers inside the cluttered flat, where he confirms he had been arrested before "for attacking Lauren".

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

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 heartbreaking ordeal. We hope they can now begin to recover and rebuild their lives.

"Having murdered Lauren during the early hours of Monday 29 April, Madog Rowlands then waited more than 24 hours before calling 999, showing complete disregard to any chances she might have of surviving.

"In this time, Rowlands took money from Lauren's account, went shopping, bought and consumed a large quantity of drugs, ordered pizza, and set up a Netflix account, before eventually - perhaps realising the inevitability of the situation - calling 999.

"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."

Additional reporting by Press Association