THERE were loud cheers from the public gallery today (Wednesday) when Rhyl man Redvers James Bickley, 21, was convicted of murdering his housemate Tyler Denton, who he stabbed to death in September of last year.

A jury of six men and six women also convicted him of attempting to murder her two sisters Cody and Shannen, and their father Paul Denton who went to their aid.

The murder conviction was by a 10 to two majority as was the attempted murder of Paul Denton.

But the verdicts in respect of Cody and Shannen were unanimous.

When the murder verdict was announced by the lady foreman there were cheers and shouts of “yes” from the public gallery and the judge had to ask members of the public to keep their emotions under control.

Bickley, formerly of Wrexham, put his head down in the dock but showed no emotion.

The murder trial jury took more than eight hours to reach their verdicts.

A life sentence is now mandatory but Mr Justice Simon Picken will have to decide what minimum tariff he should serve before he can be considered for release. He will sentence him at a later date.

The judge told Bickley, a category A prisoner at Strangeways Prison, that he would be sentenced some two weeks after Easter at a date to be fixed, possibly April 16.

He said that he needed some time to reflect.

Patrick Harrington QC said that a further defence psychiatric report would be sought.

The judge said that he understood that and said if funding was required then it would seem appropriate.

Bickley, who denied the offences, accepted what he had done – but said his alter ego James was responsible.

It was terrifying, he said, but it was James who told him what to do when he carried out the knife attack.

Bickley told the jury that he was determined to kill himself after what had happened – no matter how long it took and said the black ring he wore on his wedding finger was a suicide ring.

The prosecution said he was a fantasist, obsessed by Tyler, knew what he was doing when he dressed in black, got a flick knife, and adopted the terrifying persona of a man who growled and grunted as he carried out the attack at Llys Aderyn Du in the resort.

The defence called him a homicidal manic and said his responsibility was diminished by an abnormality of mind.

It all happened at a birthday celebration when Bickley started to knife the three girls having changed to black clothes and in a demonic voice set about them with a flick knife.