THE ex-boyfriend of a former Penarth schoolgirl, shot dead in her home, has admitted accidentally killing her.

Raymond Burrell, 24, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of 17-year-old Amie Miles after taking a gun to her flat.

Prosecutor, Peter Murphy, said: "The gun was being waved around in front of Miss Miles before it was discharged.

"Forensic scientists examined residue on her clothes, which indicated the shot was within one metre.

"The room was extremely small and they were bound to have been in close proximity to each other."

Burrell admitted manslaughter on grounds of gross negligence, and admitted illegally having a handgun in his possession on the day Amie died on July 18.

Amie was at her flat in Grangetown, Cardiff, after returning from her part-time job as a barmaid.

Burrell, of Hodges Square, Butetown, Cardiff, will be sentenced at a later date. Four other men have appeared in court following her death.

Cain McKenzie, 19, of Ellen Street, Butetown, and Leroy Herbert, also 19, of Meadowlark Close, St Mellons, were formally found not guilty of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Reuben McCauley, 21, of Christina Street, Butetown, and Gary White, 38, of Clive Street, Grangetown, pleaded guilty to assisting an offender.

They were remanded in custody until a later date.

Amie's family were in tears in court when Burrell admitted being to blame for her death. Her father only recently spoke to the Times about his grief.

Chris Miles, whose teenage daughter attended St Cyres School, said he was devastated by her death - and that the recent rise in gun crime can only lead to more youngsters losing their lives.

He said: "Nobody can really understand what it is like to lose a child unless it happens to them.

How many more people like my Amie, and those girls in Birmingham, have to die?

"We are sorry for their families."