A JURY trying two Brecon men over the death of a soldier in the town has gone home for the night.
Jake Vallely, 24, of Pen y Bryn, is accused of the murder of soldier Matthew Boyd, a private in the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, in Brecon town centre in the early hours of Sunday, May 8 this year.
Vallely’s friend, 23-year-old Aaeron Evans, of Cradoc Close, is on trial for manslaughter.
The nine men and three women on the jury heard closing speeches from the defence and prosecution yesterday and this morning at Cardiff Crown Court before judge Justice Clive Lewis began his summing up of the evidence.
After deliberating for more than an hour and a half this afternoon Justice Lewis sent the jurors home for the night. They will return to court to continue their deliberations on Thursday.
He reminded jurors not to discuss the case outside of their retiring room or to conduct their own research or follow news reports of the case.
The trial has heard how Private Boyd had gone for a night out in Brecon town centre on Saturday, May 7 having arrived at the Sennybridge Army camp for a training course earlier that week.
After drinking at the former Cellar Bar Pte Boyd walked down Lion Street and became involved in an argument with Vallely and Evans.
A struggle between Vallely and Pte Boyd was captured on a CCTV camera, placed on the Guildhall further down Lion Street, which showed the soldier being taken to the ground and punched by amateur boxer Vallely. The prosecution also claim Vallely, who says he acted in self-defence, kicked Pte Boyd.
Evans is alleged to have "encouraged or assisted" his friend in the assult. He says he had nothing to do with it after walking away from a "childish argument".