The heir to a $292 million Welsh pie company sat emotionless from a hospital room on Friday as he was sentenced to life behind bars for the “barbaric” murder of his childhood best friend.
Dylan Thomas stabbed William Bush nearly 40 times inside the home they shared in Llandaff, Cardiff on Christmas Eve in 2023.
Thomas, who is the grandson of Peter’s Pie Services founder Sir Stanley Thomas, was found guilty in November and has been undergoing treatment for schizophrenia and psychosis, BBC reported.
The 24-year-old only spoke from the Ashworth Hospital in Liverpool to confirm he could hear the Cardiff Crown Court judge at the beginning of the sentencing.
Thomas will serve at least 19 years in prison and will be credited with 337 days he already served, South Wales Police confirmed Friday.
During the hearing, Bush’s sister Carin said her brother’s life was taken “in the most barbaric and cruel way,” the outlet reported.
Sir Stanley Thomas founded the Welsh baker and pastry provider with his brother Peter following the growth of their own father’s pastry service.
Sir Thomas attended Cardiff court Friday for the sentencing.
The murderer was with his family the day before the murder in Rhoose, Wales and stayed the night at his grandmother’s house.
He had asked his grandmother to drive him back home the morning of Christmas Eve under the guise of checking on his dog.
During the 12-mile drive through Wales from Rhoose to Llandaff, Cardiff, the two friends had continued a Snapchat conversation from the night prior, according to the South Wales Police.
While messaging Bush, Thomas made online searches of the human anatomy including veins and arteries, and assisted suicide.
Moments before arriving at their house, Thomas texted Bush to ensure he was there.
“You home?” the killer asked.
“Yeah I’m home,” Bush replied.
“Ok nearly home stay there x,” Thomas replied, according to texts shared by police.
Thomas snuck into the home, armed himself with a large kitchen knife and a flick knife and attacked Bush who was in his bedroom, BBC reported.
Bush was stabbed 37 times including in the head and chest.
He had intended on moving in with his girlfriend and starting a new job before his death, police said.
A blood-covered Thomas escaped the house and banged on the window of his grandmother’s car as Bush lay lifelessly on the patio.
Chilling police audio captured Thomas calling for an ambulance saying his friend was dead.
Thomas had previously been arrested for scaling at Buckingham Palace weeks before the murder.
