Holyhead man received life sentence for murder of Buddug Jones

Colin Milburn, of Maes Gwelfor in Rhydwyn, Holyhead, appeared at Caernarfon Crown Court for sentence on Friday morning.

At the conclusion of a trial towards the end of 2022, the 52-year-old was found guilty of murdering 48-year-old Buddug Jones on April 22 last year.

The court heard this week that following a breakdown in his relationship with Ms Jones, Milburn had been living in his car elsewhere in Holyhead.

After developing "unreasonable and obsessive" beliefs over a number of years that Ms Jones had been having affairs, he returned to the Maes Gwelfor address shortly after 7.15am on the day of the crime.

He'd waited for their four sons to leave for work, and let himself into the home through an unlocked back door before using a hammer or similar weapon to repeatedly hit her on the head.

After being in the home for just a matter of minutes, he left and went to work himself - before returning to the house some time later and purported to find the body of Ms Jones.

Buddug Jones (Image: Archive)

Judge Rhys Rowlands told the defendant he'd had ample time to dispose of the murder weapon - which was never found.

Anna Pope, prosecuting, read victim personal statements from Ms Jones' sons, the youngest of whom can't be named for legal reasons.

The eldest son John Milburn said he felt "so lost" in the aftermath of the killing - as they were uprooted form their family home after it became a crime scene.

He took on the responsibility of providing for the family and described his mother as the "one who held our family together."

He said: "I am trying to fill her shoes, but they are massive shoes.

"I'd like to think I am doing an OK job of it, and mam is proud of me."
Daniel Milburn said: "Colin lost the right to be called my dad when he did what he did to my mam.

"He has changed everything forever."

He said the incident has had an impact on his mental health, and he has emotional breakdowns when he feels overwhelmed.

Martin Milburn said he finds it hard to wake up in the mornings, and has "no interest in anything anymore."

The youngest brother  said: "When I get into deep thoughts, I get upset.

"It makes me feel sick that my dad killed my mam."

Henry Cole KC, lead prosecuting barrister, asked the court to consider attaching a minimum term of 25 years to the defendants mandatory life sentence.

He said there had been a "lengthy history of abuse" and said during the trial, the defendant had sought to shift the blame for the crime onto others.

Colin Milburn (Image: North Wales Police) (Image: NWP)

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Jonathan Rees KC, defending, said there was no evidence a weapon had been taken to the house - but he accepted the defendant would have known there were plenty of objects to hand in the property that could have been used in such a way.

He said it was accepted there had been a "significant" but not "high" degree of planning and pre-meditation, explaining that while evidence suggested the weapon was taken to be disposed of, there had been no attempt to interfere with forensic evidence or "clean" the scene itself.

His client remained in the area throughout the investigation, he said, and returned for further police interviews.

Mr Rees added that the prosecution's drawing of the Judge's attention to a history of emotional abuse in the relationship was hearsay, and could not be explored at trial.

Witnesses had in fact described his client as "pleasant, calm, non-aggressive and friendly," he said.

Judge Rowlands told the defendant he'd committed a "savage and quite merciless attack" on his estranged partner, having driven to her house with murderous intent while she was alone and vulnerable.

"Over the years you were seeking to be controlling," the Judge said.

"All borne out of your obsessive belief she was seeing other men behind your back."

He said Milburn's actions on the day had been "fuelled by resentment and self-pity."

The victim had "had to put up with an awful lot" throughout their relationship as a result of Milburn's "inadequacy," he added.

Judge Rowlands handed down a life sentence.

Milburn must serve a minimum of 20 years before he can be considered for release on licence by the parole board.

"You clearly are a dangerous individual," the Judge said.

"It was a cowardly, brutal assault against a defenceless woman in her bed.

"I have no doubt the tears shed by you were borne out of the realisation of the enormity of what you'd done, and the likely consequences to you."