Fiancé convicted of manslaughter

A Bath man has been found not guilty of murdering his fiancée – and mother of their baby daughter – at the city centre flat they shared.

But Paul Keene has been convicted of manslaughter – a charge he admitted – over the death of research student Carmen Miron Buchacra, known as Gaby.

Gaby Buchacra, above left, and above with her killer Paul Keene; below, the Bennett Street building where the killing took place

Keene, 32, who worked for a financial services firm in the city, strangled the 28-year-old at their Bennett Street flat late on the night of Saturday, June 23.

He had denied murder and will be sentenced in the new year after probation and psychiatric reports.

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During the trial the court heard how Keene and Gaby, who was studying for a PhD at the University of Bath, had been having difficulties in a relationship that was at times stormy.

But despite this, they had been planning to get married in her native Mexico in the autumn. The couple also had an 11-week-old daughter together.

The jury at Bristol Crown Court took six hours and 52 minutes to reach its verdict.

Mr Justice Eder said he had to decide what risk Keene posed to the public before he could sentence him.

He told the court: "The law requires me to consider at least that even with a verdict of manslaughter with loss of control, whether this defendant constitutes some kind of danger to the public."

He added Keene was likely to face a "significant custodial sentence".

Police had to break the news to Gaby's family on the other side of the Atlantic.

Keene's mother was in court for the verdict but did not want to comment.