A boxer has been convicted of murdering a soldier during a night out in Brecon.
Jake Vallely, 24, from Pen-Y-Bryn in Brecon, was found guilty at Cardiff Crown Court of the murder of Private Matthew Boyd, 20, from the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, following a fight in Brecon town centre on May 7.
Pte Boyd, 20, died in the early hours of May 8.
Aaeron Evans, 23, from Cradoc Close, Brecon, was cleared of a charge of manslaughter.
When the jury foreman returned the guilty verdict on Vallely there were loud shouts of 'yes' from the packed public gallery.Judge Justice Clive Lewis demanded silence in court and said: "There will be silence in the court or you will be removed, please be silent."The foreman of the jury of nine men and three women then announced the not guilty verdict on Mr Evans.Justice Lewis thanked the jury for "great attention" they had paid to the "emotional" case.Outside court DC Zoe Powell, from Dyfed-Powys Police, read a statment from the family of Pte Boyd who paid tribute to their "loving, caring and loyal" son.Reading from the statment DC Powell said: "He brought smiles to our hearts and faces."Matthew would walk into a room and brighten it up."He was a good son, a friend, and he a brilliant outlook on life. He did not deserve to be taken from us in this manner."He was born prematurely and he was taken from us prematurely in the blink of an eye without warning."Jake Vallely has created a void in our family that will never be filled. He has taken our son, our brother, our grandson and our friend."Vallely will return to court next week to be sentenced.After the jury's verdict, senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent David Guiney said: "I am pleased that Dyfed-Powys Police, with extensive support from the Crown Prosecution Service, has secured this verdict for Matthew Boyd and his family and friends, all of whom have spoken of Matthew with such love and admiration.""Matthew Boyd was a young man enjoying a night out in Brecon with his friends. The violent attack he suffered, which resulted in his tragic death, was a despicable act and one that shocked the community of Brecon and Matthew's military friends and colleagues." "I wish to extend my condolences to Matthew's family. No prison sentence can bring him back, however I hope that the verdict does bring some form of justice and peace.""I plead with anyone who plans a night out drinking with their friends to please, walk away from any conflict, do not resort to violence. Whether you carry out an extended attack or throw one punch the consequences could be devastating for everyone involved."