Soldier 'Stabbed Himself' Before Being Tasered - SkyNews

A man who died after being Tasered by officers in Llanelli in South Wales has been named as former soldier Spencer Beynon.

Emergency services were called to the scene in the Morfa area around 7.35pm on Tuesday after neighbours reported concerns about a man's behaviour.

Witnesses said they saw the man armed with a knife looking "totally out of it" and stabbing a dog and then himself.

Mr Beynon, who was thought to have been 43, had previously served in Afghanistan and Iraq.


Some friends suggested he had been left traumatised by his experiences in the military, including a roadside bomb attack in Basra that killed some of his fellow soldiers in the Royal Welsh Regiment.

Brendan Goddard, 34, said: "Spencer was a lovely bloke. I've known him most of my life. He was a good guy but I think he had been struggling with his mental health since leaving the Army.

"Since he's come back home he's not been the same."

Halder Monteiro, 43, who lives nearby, was among those who witnessed the situation unfold on Tuesday night.

He said: "I was in the house and I could hear lots of shouting and at first I just thought it was kids messing around.

"I then went out to see what was going on and I could see a guy in the street who looked totally out of it.

"He didn't seem himself - as if he wasn't there. He just had this look in his eyes. You could tell he wasn't acting rationally.

"He then started hitting his head against a window several times and looked to be holding a dog in his arms.

"After police used the Taser he fell to the floor and the dog he was carrying was crawling on its back legs. It looked injured."

Local councillor Robert Davies said: "It is very sad. He was a nice guy, always had time to say hello, very pleasant. He was always with his dog.

"I think he found it hard coming out of the Army. So many of our soldiers who serve their country are forgotten about."

Mr Beynon's sister paid tribute to her brother.

"I just can't speak at the moment, our hearts are ripped in pieces and our lives will never be the same again, my baby bro and the man I loved more than anything has left my life and there was nothing I could do to help him!

"But he's at peace now and that is all that is giving me the tiniest bit of comfort!

"RIP my angel I will never forget the amazing times and memories we shared."

The incident has been referred to police watchdog the Independent Police Complaints Commission.