Corey Gauci, 19, found guilty of murdering Colin Richards, 48, in a shocking Cardiff stabbing last April

A teenager has been found guilty of murdering Colin Richards, a beloved father of seven, in a brutal knife attack that has rocked the Cardiff community to its core. Nineteen-year-old Corey Gauci stood emotionless in the dock as the jury at Cardiff Crown Court returned a verdict of guilty in the cold-blooded killing that unfolded last April.

The court heard how Richards, 48, from Grangetown, was left bleeding on the pavement after being stabbed in the thigh in Heol Y Berllan, Caerau. Emergency services rushed to the scene, but despite their best efforts, Richards succumbed to his injuries. The deep wound had severed a major artery—his death, as the prosecution chillingly described, was swift and irreversible.

The attack stemmed from a toxic chain of events involving Christian Morgan—an old friend of Richards—and a group of individuals fuelled by anger, threats, and long-standing personal grudges. Morgan became the target of a tirade of abuse from his ex-girlfriend, Noreen O’Driscoll, sister to co-defendant James O’Driscoll. What began as a verbal onslaught escalated into a coordinated confrontation.

On the night of April 7, tensions exploded. Gauci, armed and dangerous, played the role of aggressor. Prosecutors argued he acted with clear intent when he delivered the fatal blow to Richards’ thigh, a wound so severe it proved deadly within minutes. The court was told that Gauci had denied murder, but the weight of evidence proved overwhelming. He was convicted unanimously.

Gauci wasn’t alone in the dock. James O’Driscoll, 27, was also found guilty—though not of murder. He was convicted of violent disorder and possession of a knife. Christian Morgan, 36, faced charges too. Though the jury could not reach a verdict on violent disorder, they convicted him for carrying a blade.

Others in the web of violence were found guilty of assisting an offender. Rebecca Ross, 44, and Soraya Somersall, also 44, were convicted alongside Noreen O’Driscoll, 29. Ross was further found guilty of possessing a deadly weapon. All three played roles in the aftermath, either obstructing justice or hiding evidence.

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Davies, who led the investigation, said: “Colin was a much-loved father, grandfather, son, and brother. His tragic death has left seven children without a guiding light. The senselessness of this crime is something we all struggle to comprehend.”

He thanked the witnesses who stepped forward and the prosecution team for their meticulous work in bringing justice to the grieving Richards family.

Neighbours in Grangetown have paid tribute to Colin Richards, describing him as a kind man devoted to his children. One local resident said, “He didn’t deserve this. Colin was always smiling, always helping others. His children adored him.”

The ripple effects of the murder continue to haunt the area. Community leaders and local councillors have called for action on knife crime, warning that more lives will be lost if decisive steps aren’t taken to address street violence among young people.

Sentencing for Gauci and the other defendants is set for May 23. The court is expected to hand down significant custodial terms as the Richards family waits in hope that justice, however painful, will begin to heal their wounds.

As Cardiff reflects on the loss of a father and the waste of young lives to brutality, a community remains united in grief—and determined to ensure that Colin Richards is remembered not for how he died, but for the love he gave in life.