Kian Bateman ploughed into Shelley Davies and her partner David Bratcher outside the Home Guard club in Cardiff – the 19-year-old inhaled laughing gas before the incident
A teenage driver who deliberately ploughed into a Cardiff mum outside a club, killing her, has been convicted of murder. Shelley Davies, 38, succumbed to her injuries a week after the incident in September last year.
Kian Bateman, 19, rammed his car into Miss Davies outside the Home Guard club in the Ely area of Cardiff. There had been an altercation involving his brother Kai, Ms Davies, and her partner David Bratcher, who was also struck by Bateman.
He cried out, “I didn’t see her, I didn’t see Shelley” as he was escorted from the dock at Cardiff Crown Court following the jury’s verdict.
Footage shown to jurors during the trial captured Bateman inhaling laughing gas balloons before he drove his Seat Ibiza Sport into Ms Davies and Mr Bratcher.
Miss Davies sustained multiple injuries in the attack including fractures to her vertebrae, ribs, arm and pelvis, along with internal injuries, reports Wales Online.
During the trial, Prosecutor Michael Jones KC said Bateman had spotted her and was “intending in this moment to either kill them or at least cause them really serious harm”.
He said: “The defendant drove over Ms Davies and knocked over Mr Bratcher.
“The defendant did not stop after driving over Ms Davies and into Mr Bratcher, he continued driving along Heol Trelai and away from the scene.”
Mr Jones said it was “no coincidence” that the only two people he had hit had been involved in an altercation with his brother seconds earlier. His motor was subsequently discovered abandoned with nitrous oxide canisters on the passenger seat.
Prosecutor Michael Jones KC informed the court that Bateman had visited the club to see General Levi perform and was sitting in his vehicle with the engine running when the incident unfolded before him. His brother Kai delivered a blow that sent Ms Davies crashing to the ground, leaving her sprawled in the road.
Bateman’s claim that he hadn’t spotted Miss Davies and was in shock following the incident was dismissed by the jury.
The jury was told how Ms Davies was left lying in the carriageway with severe injuries — she remained conscious but was unable to speak.
Police and paramedics arrived moments later and she was rushed to the University Hospital of Wales, where she was admitted to intensive care and treated for numerous serious injuries.
She needed emergency surgery during which surgeons tried to reconstruct her pelvis, but while in hospital she developed complications, caught multiple infections and entered septic shock.
At 2.30pm on October 18, after her condition worsened further, all treatment was withdrawn and Ms Davies passed away.
The medical cause of death was recorded as multiple organ failure, multiple chest wounds, infarction, polytrauma including bowel, chest and leg injuries.
Bateman, of Heol Muston, Ely, pleaded not guilty to murder, manslaughter, attempted murder, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and inflicting grievous bodily harm. He admitted causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
The jury deliberated throughout Friday morning before reaching a unanimous decision. They delivered a guilty verdict for the murder of Ms Davies, cleared him of the attempted murder of Mr Bratcher, but found him guilty of inflicting grievous bodily harm upon him.
Judge Mary Stacey told the jury they would be excused from jury service for life owing to the “stress and emotion” endured during this case. She expressed her gratitude for their commitment to public duty as she released them.
Bateman will receive his sentence on Friday, July 3.