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| Lola James: Mother and partner guilty over toddler's death | Lola James: Mother and partner guilty over toddler's death |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Listen: Sinead James makes a 999 call claiming her daughter had been injured after falling down the stairs | Listen: Sinead James makes a 999 call claiming her daughter had been injured after falling down the stairs |
| Listen: Sinead James makes a 999 call claiming her daughter had been injured after falling down the stairs | Listen: Sinead James makes a 999 call claiming her daughter had been injured after falling down the stairs |
| A man has been found guilty of murdering his partner's two-year-old daughter. | A man has been found guilty of murdering his partner's two-year-old daughter. |
| Kyle Bevan, 31, of Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, subjected Lola James to a "brutal" assault while he was alone with her in July 2020. | Kyle Bevan, 31, of Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, subjected Lola James to a "brutal" assault while he was alone with her in July 2020. |
| Lola's mother Sinead James, 30, of Neyland, Pembrokeshire, was also found guilty of causing or allowing her death. | Lola's mother Sinead James, 30, of Neyland, Pembrokeshire, was also found guilty of causing or allowing her death. |
| Lola died in hospital having suffered a "catastrophic" head injury. | Lola died in hospital having suffered a "catastrophic" head injury. |
| Bevan, James's boyfriend, blamed the family dog for the death, but a jury took just over 10 hours to find him guilty of murder. | Bevan, James's boyfriend, blamed the family dog for the death, but a jury took just over 10 hours to find him guilty of murder. |
| Lola's grandmother Nicola James said the loss her family felt was "indescribable", adding they would never get over her death. | |
| Swansea Crown Court heard Bevan, from Aberystwyth, told the police Lola's injuries were caused by the family dog, an American bulldog called Jessie, which pushed her down the stairs. | Swansea Crown Court heard Bevan, from Aberystwyth, told the police Lola's injuries were caused by the family dog, an American bulldog called Jessie, which pushed her down the stairs. |
| Kyle Bevan was found guilty or murdering Lola in a “frenzied and brutal attack” | Kyle Bevan was found guilty or murdering Lola in a “frenzied and brutal attack” |
| The prosecution said the claim was a "deliberate lie to cover up his guilt". | The prosecution said the claim was a "deliberate lie to cover up his guilt". |
| Bevan had lived in the family home in Haverfordwest for four months before he killed Lola. | Bevan had lived in the family home in Haverfordwest for four months before he killed Lola. |
| The court heard he used drugs including Xanax, cannabis and amphetamines, and had a volatile temper. | The court heard he used drugs including Xanax, cannabis and amphetamines, and had a volatile temper. |
| He subjected Lola to a "brutal" assault between the evening of 16 July and the morning of 17 July 2020. | He subjected Lola to a "brutal" assault between the evening of 16 July and the morning of 17 July 2020. |
| Lola, described as a "happy, beautiful and busy little girl", was found to have 101 cuts and bruises on her body. | Lola, described as a "happy, beautiful and busy little girl", was found to have 101 cuts and bruises on her body. |
| She experienced head trauma likened to injuries sustained in a high velocity car crash. | She experienced head trauma likened to injuries sustained in a high velocity car crash. |
| Phone records show that at around 06:30 BST on 17 July, Bevan googled: "My two-year-old child has just taken a bang to the head and gone all limp and snoring. What's wrong?" | Phone records show that at around 06:30 BST on 17 July, Bevan googled: "My two-year-old child has just taken a bang to the head and gone all limp and snoring. What's wrong?" |
| Bevan waited another hour before calling an ambulance at around 07:30. | Bevan waited another hour before calling an ambulance at around 07:30. |
| 'Excuses and lies' | 'Excuses and lies' |
| The court heard that when paramedics arrived at the home, they found Lola lying unconscious with a swollen and bruised face, and she also appeared to be wet. | The court heard that when paramedics arrived at the home, they found Lola lying unconscious with a swollen and bruised face, and she also appeared to be wet. |
| Investigators later noticed that the bath was spotlessly clean despite the rest of the house being dirty. | Investigators later noticed that the bath was spotlessly clean despite the rest of the house being dirty. |
| A vomit and blood-stained grey onesie was also found in the corner of the living room. | A vomit and blood-stained grey onesie was also found in the corner of the living room. |
| The prosecutor said it is believed all that was part of Kyle Bevan's attempt to destroy evidence. | The prosecutor said it is believed all that was part of Kyle Bevan's attempt to destroy evidence. |
| Prosecutor Caroline Rees KC told the court: "We say that, rather than face up to what he did to the little girl, Kyle Bevan immediately tried to save himself. | Prosecutor Caroline Rees KC told the court: "We say that, rather than face up to what he did to the little girl, Kyle Bevan immediately tried to save himself. |
| "Rather than immediately call the emergency services, as surely would be natural had this been an accident as he now says, he took time to concoct excuses and lies." | "Rather than immediately call the emergency services, as surely would be natural had this been an accident as he now says, he took time to concoct excuses and lies." |
| Lola's mother Sinead James was found guilty of causing or allowing her daughter's death | Lola's mother Sinead James was found guilty of causing or allowing her daughter's death |
| Jurors were shown photographs that Bevan took of Lola's injuries and a video he shot of her unconscious and badly injured. | Jurors were shown photographs that Bevan took of Lola's injuries and a video he shot of her unconscious and badly injured. |
| In the video, a topless Bevan is seen lifting an unresponsive Lola and trying to stand her up. | In the video, a topless Bevan is seen lifting an unresponsive Lola and trying to stand her up. |
| He then lets her go and a thud can be heard as she falls to the ground. | He then lets her go and a thud can be heard as she falls to the ground. |
| Bevan then places Lola back on the sofa where she can be heard snoring, and he walks towards the camera saying: "She's gone. She's gone." | Bevan then places Lola back on the sofa where she can be heard snoring, and he walks towards the camera saying: "She's gone. She's gone." |
| Violent incidents | Violent incidents |
| Sinead James claimed she was asleep when her daughter's injuries were caused, which was accepted by the prosecution. | Sinead James claimed she was asleep when her daughter's injuries were caused, which was accepted by the prosecution. |
| But they said James should have been aware of the threat Bevan posed to Lola due to previous violent incidents against her. | But they said James should have been aware of the threat Bevan posed to Lola due to previous violent incidents against her. |
| James told the court she was woken by Bevan at 07:20 on 17 July, who told her Lola had fallen down the stairs. | James told the court she was woken by Bevan at 07:20 on 17 July, who told her Lola had fallen down the stairs. |
| She told the court she rushed to see her daughter and saw Lola on the sofa with a swollen head and lips. | She told the court she rushed to see her daughter and saw Lola on the sofa with a swollen head and lips. |
| Lola had previously suffered a series of injuries in the months leading up to her death including a bloodied nose, a grazed chin and a split lip. | Lola had previously suffered a series of injuries in the months leading up to her death including a bloodied nose, a grazed chin and a split lip. |
| All of these were covered up by Bevan with a string of excuses, but the jury ruled they should have made James realise that Bevan was a threat to Lola. | All of these were covered up by Bevan with a string of excuses, but the jury ruled they should have made James realise that Bevan was a threat to Lola. |
| James had a domestic violence advisor, to whom James never disclosed that Bevan had moved into the family home. | James had a domestic violence advisor, to whom James never disclosed that Bevan had moved into the family home. |
| James broke down in tears when the verdict was read out that she was found guilty of causing or allowing her daughter's death. | James broke down in tears when the verdict was read out that she was found guilty of causing or allowing her daughter's death. |
| Bevan did not react when he was found guilty of Lola's murder. | Bevan did not react when he was found guilty of Lola's murder. |
| Lola's grandmother Nicola James said in a statement: "My last memory with Lola is hearing her singing the song 'Diamonds' by Rhianna. | |
| "She and her sister had spent time learning the song and making up a little dance to it, so that they could put on a show for us." | |
| Lola's biological father Daniel Thomas said the pain and grief he felt over her death was "unbearable". | |
| "Even to say your name shatters my heart to know you can't hear my voice anymore," he said in a statement. | |
| "The only reason I can stand here today is for hope that you can see me, see that you were loved and that you deserved to live a full, happy, safe life surrounded by the joy that you gave to others." | |
| NSPCC Cymru's Assistant Director Tracey Holdsworth said a review into Lola's death must establish whether more could have been done by agencies to save her, and drive the action required to help prevent such tragic cases in the future. | |
| "It's crucial this leads to systemic changes that ensure children like Lola are better protected," she said. | |
| Bevan and James will be sentenced on Tuesday 25 April. | Bevan and James will be sentenced on Tuesday 25 April. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Haverfordwest | Haverfordwest |
| Aberystwyth | Aberystwyth |