Hunt for killer who tortured ex-teacher and left him to die
AMURDERER who gagged and tortured a reprison.tired teacher before leaving him for dead is wanted by police after being released from Christopher Paul, pictured left, was sentenced for murder in 1992 in what the judge described at the
time as a “callous” killing.
Paul was found guilty of the murder and robbery of former art teacher Aneurin Caradog Williams.
Mr Williams, who was 63, was found by a friend in a pool of blood at his house in Llanbradach near Caerphilly on September 27, 1991.
His hands were tied behind his back, a wire noose was round his neck and his body had been brutally beaten.
The former council chairman had died as a result of suffocation and pressure.
Paul, who was then 20 and living in Trethomas, was sentenced to life.
His 17-year-old accomplice, Jason Soal, then of Graig-Y-Racha, near Machen, admitted the charges.
Soal later went on to bound a mother with masking tape in front of her three-year-old daughter during a burglary in 2013 after being released from prison on licence in 2004.
He went on the run before later being jailed for a minimum of 12 years.
During Paul’s trial for Mr Williams’ murder, the jury heard how he and Soal hatched a plot to rob the former teacher at his home. They ransacked the house, tortured him and left him to die.
Mr Williams, who also worked as a leisure manager for Rhymney Valley District Council, was described as a quiet and “gentle” man who had recently moved to the semidetached house in The Rise from Caerphilly.
Gerard Elias, who had represented Paul, said he denied committing the crime but had never denied being present at the scene. He said Paul had expressed remorse for Mr Williams’ death.
Paul was given a life sentence at Cardiff Crown Court on September 11, 1992.
Speaking during the sentencing, Mr Justice Simon Brown said: “Noone but you two will ever know the precise parts you played in these dreadful events that took place on that day. I have no doubt you were both fully involved in this shocking murder. You knew he was elderly, living alone and had substantial cash hidden away.”
The judge said it was a “merciless” killing by two robbers who had gone prepared for violence.
He added: “You left your victim to die shackled and gagged with a noose round his neck. By leaving him as you did you denied any chance of life.”
The court heard the pair made no effort to alert police until hours later when they left obscure messages after driving away from the scene in Mr Williams’ car.
Paul, now 45 and from Caerphilly, was released from HMP Parc Prison on June 21, 2016. He is now wanted by police for breaching his licence conditions and is being recalled to prison.
■ Anyone with information is asked to call Gwent Police on 101 quoting log number 1800117221 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.