Kian Bateman, 19, denies the murder of Shelley Davies, 38, who suffered catastrophic injuries after she was struck by a Seat Ibiza driven by the defendant
Shelley Davies
A teenager accused of murdering a woman by deliberately running her over after inhaling nitrous oxide has said he did not mean to hurt anybody and was left devastated by her death. He told the court he was not aware he had run anyone over until his cousin later told him over the phone.
Kian Bateman, 19, caused the death of Shelley Davies, 38, who suffered catastrophic injuries after being struck by a Seat Ibiza driven by the defendant outside the Home Guard club in the Ely area of Cardiff on September 27 last year.
A trial at Cardiff Crown Court previously heard Ms Davies and her partner David Bratcher had been involved in “an altercation” with the defendant’s brother Kai.
Kian Bateman had been sitting in his car with the engine running as the fight played out in front of him. Make sure you never miss Wales’ biggest updates by getting our daily newsletter.
Prosecutor Michael Jones KC said: “The prosecution’s case is outside that club just after midnight, this defendant deliberately drove his vehicle into Shelley Davies and David Bratcher, intending in this moment to either kill them or at least cause them really serious harm.”
The prosecutor continued: “The prosecution say he would have been able to see what was going on.
“He drove forward a short distance before stopping again.
“The altercation involving his brother, Shelley Davies and David Bratcher was ongoing and Kai threw a further punch. He punched Ms Davies in the face which caused her to fall to the ground.
“She was lying in the road and Mr Bratcher was seen to move towards Kai Bateman. At this point the defendant, the prosecution say, deliberately accelerated his car forward and into a collision with Ms Davies who had her arms outstretched in front of her as if to ward off the car.
“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.”
Ms Davies was taken to hospital where she was treated for multiple serious injuries
These included fractures to her vertebrae, rib fractures, arm fractures, hip fractures and dislocation, blood in the abdomen, multiple wounds and abrasions.
She was taken into surgery immediately and attempts were made to stabilise her. Surgeons tried to put her pelvis back together and a blood transfusion was administered.
While in hospital, Ms Davies suffered complications, contracted multiple infections and went into septic shock.
On October 17, Ms Davies suffered a major deterioration in her condition and by the next day she had liver and irreversible organ failure. All treatment was stopped and Ms Davies died at 2.30pm on October 18.
Giving evidence at the trial on Monday, Kian Bateman was asked by his barrister, Caroline Rees KC, about the effects of nitrous oxide, which the defendant had been inhaling from balloons on the night of the incident.
He said: “It makes you laugh and have a good time.” He denied the drug made him feel aggressive or have negative feelings.
The defendant told the court he had been to the Home Guard to watch General Levi perform and had briefly driven to his girlfriend’s house before returning.
When asked what he saw when he drove outside the club, Bateman said: “When I came back there was a big crowd gathered and everyone was shouting and arguing… Really loud, everyone was shouting… I seen glasses getting thrown, people arguing and pushing each other out the way.”
The defendant said he was unaware his brother Kai had become involved in an altercation with Ms Davies or Mr Bratcher.
Describing his feelings, he said: “I was scared, I didn’t know what to do. I was petrified. I was looking everywhere where people were shouting and I thought something bad was going to happen to me.
Ms Rees said: “What were you scared about in particular?”
Bateman said: “Getting hurt, that people were going to hurt me when they were drunk.”
When asked what he did, the defendant said: “I just drove, I didn’t know why I did it… I was just scared like, I wish it never happened.”
Ms Rees said: “How do you feel about what happened now that you know Shelley Davies was injured and died?”
Bateman said: “Devastated, it’s horrible.”
The defence barrister said: “Did you want that to happen?”
Bateman said: “No.”
Ms Rees said: “Did you want to hurt anybody?”
Bateman said: “No.”
When asked when he found out he had run over Ms Davies, the defendant said: “When I had a call from my cousin, she said I had run someone over and I went into complete shock and didn’t know what to do.”
Bateman, of Heol Muston, Ely, has pleaded not guilty to murder, manslaughter, attempted murder, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and inflicting grievous bodily harm.
The defendant had pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
The trial continues.
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