Family ‘broken’ after alleged murder of Victoria Thomas, 45, in Cardiff

A grieving family has said it is “broken” and will miss its much-loved “daughter, mother, sister, aunt, niece and friend” forever, after a woman was found dead at a house in Cardiff.

Victoria Thomas, 45, died in the early hours of Tuesday 20 August and was found at a house on Caerphilly Road in the Welsh city.

Alcwyn Thomas, 44, appeared at Cardiff magistrates court on 23 August accused of murder. He did not enter a plea to the charge of murdering Thomas at the property where they both lived.

The deputy district judge, Daniel Church, said: “This court cannot consider bail in a case such as this.” He adjourned the case to be heard at Cardiff crown court at a later date.

Paying tribute to the 45-year-old, her family said in a statement shared by South Wales police: “As a family we are devastated that our much-loved daughter, mother, sister, aunt, niece and friend has been taken away so tragically. Our family are broken, and we will miss her for ever. Please respect our privacy and our wishes to grieve at this devastating and difficult time.”

At an inquest at the start of September in Pontypridd, the coroner’s officer Keeley Mason said South Wales police received a report a woman had allegedly been assaulted at the property at approximately 12.30am.

Adjourning the full inquest to a later date for “further criminal investigation” to take place, the assistant coroner, Rachel Knight, said: “Based upon the evidence I am satisfied to open an inquest as I have reason to suspect her death is unnatural.”

Knight added: “I want to take this opportunity to pass on my condolences to the family and friends at this sad time.”