 Davies had denied causing death by dangerous driving |
A motorist who was almost three times the drink-drive limit has been found guilty of causing the death of a student by dangerous driving. Richard Davies, 22, crashed into Domenic Hopkins' parked car, killing the 18-year-old who had broken down.
Mr Hopkins, a sixth-former from Port Talbot, had lost a wheel on the A483 in Swansea in the early hours.
Remanding Davies, from Birchgrove, in custody, Judge Keith Thomas told him he faced an inevitable prison sentence.
Immediately after he heard the majority verdict, Davies admitted a separate charge of drink-driving.
There were cheers in the court room as he was told he would be going to jail when sentencing took place next month.
Speaking outside the court Mr Hopkins' father Alyn, a construction manager, said he hoped Davies would be given the maximum jail term the law allowed.
 |  No matter what they give him it won't be enough for us |
"It was the right verdict and I only hope the sentence will cover what this boy did," he said.
"Our family is totally in bits - I heard his (Davies) mother crying but she will never ever cry as much as we have cried.
"We will be without our son forever.
"The sentence can't bring my son back - no matter what they give him it won't be enough for us.
"Domenic was a fantastic son. He would help anyone - everybody like him - he never had any enemies."
The sixth former, who was studying maths and history, had just been accepted into the RAF before the crash.
He had interests in engineering and football and was a big Manchester United fan.
 Domenic Hopkins had just been accepted by the RAF |
During the trial at Swansea Crown Court, the jury was told Mr Hopkins' Vauxhall Tigra lost a wheel as he drove along Fabian Way on 4 March 2006.
He parked in the inside lane of the dual carriageway and put on the flashing hazard lights.
James Jenkins, prosecuting, said Mr Hopkins searched in the boot, Davies approached in his Vauxhall Corsa.
Mr Jenkins said the Corsa appeared to be "snaking" across the road.
The Corsa hit the back of the Tigra at between 50-55mph, killing Mr Hopkins.
Mr Jenkins said Mr Davies got out of the Corsa "rubbing his head."
Davies failed a breath test and a later test showed a drink level of 86 compared to the limit of 35.
A "back calculation" allowing for the passage of time put his level at the moment of impact as between 92 and 102.
Mr Jenkins said Davies told a police officer: "I have had about six pints. It is all my fault."
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