Cardiff man pleads guilty to double murder stabbing of Matalan couple

A 20-year-old man has pleaded guilty to stabbing to death a couple on a Cardiff city centre street after they finished working a shift at Matalan.

Andrew Saunders has admitted to the murder of Zoe Morgan, 21, and her partner Lee Simmons, 33, on Queen Street in the Welsh capital at around 5.50am on 28 September.

Saunders was arrested an hour after the early morning attack. He has now admitted to two counts of murder after appearing at Cardiff Crown Court.

Following her death, Morgan's family issued a tribute, describing her as a "a beautiful daughter, sister, granddaughter and auntie who had a heart of gold and would do anything for anybody."

The family added in a statement: "She was taken away from us tragically, too soon, and has left a massive hole in our lives that will never be filled. Zoe will always be in our hearts forever and always. We are all broken-hearted."

Morgan's former headteacher at Whitchurch High said the 21-year-old was someone who was "going on to great things". Huw Jones-Williams told BBC Wales: "We are in complete shock. Your heart just goes out to her family and friends on the tragic circumstances that she has lost her life.

"She was really creative herself. She had a real passion for photography. Once she qualified from our sixth form she went on to become a graduate in honours and that was tremendous.

"She will be remembered with a lot of fondness. She was in a year group that had an excellent reputation. Not just in the classroom but for being good citizens. That is what you always want as a teacher. You want people to go on to do great things and we have no doubt that she was going on to great things which makes her loss even sadder."

Morgan and Simmons both worked together at the high street store and were reported to have been dating for around three months before they were killed.

Saunders is due to be sentenced in January.