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| Lola James: Mum and boyfriend 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 after subjecting her to a "brutal" assault. | |
| Kyle Bevan, 31, of Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, killed Lola James while he was alone with her in July 2020. | |
| Lola's mother Sinead James, 30, of Neyland, Pembrokeshire, was 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. | 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 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 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 about 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 about 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. | Bevan waited another hour before calling an ambulance. |
| '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. |
| 'Short life filled with pain' | 'Short life filled with pain' |
| After the trial, Lola's grandmother Nicola James said in a statement: "My last memory with Lola is hearing her singing the song Diamonds by Rihanna. | After the trial, Lola's grandmother Nicola James said in a statement: "My last memory with Lola is hearing her singing the song Diamonds by Rihanna. |
| "She will forever be our diamond up in the sky, we will never ever forget her, and we will continue to keep her memory alive. | "She will forever be our diamond up in the sky, we will never ever forget her, and we will continue to keep her memory alive. |
| "As a family we will never get over this, the loss that we feel is indescribable." | "As a family we will never get over this, the loss that we feel is indescribable." |
| Lola's father Daniel Thomas said the pain and grief he felt was "unbearable". | Lola's father Daniel Thomas said the pain and grief he felt was "unbearable". |
| "The pain I feel thinking of all the smiles you gave to me and all the smiles I won't get a chance to give back to you hurts so much. | "The pain I feel thinking of all the smiles you gave to me and all the smiles I won't get a chance to give back to you hurts so much. |
| "Even to say your name shatters my heart to know you can't hear my voice anymore. | "Even to say your name shatters my heart to know you can't hear my voice anymore. |
| "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." | "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." |
| "I'm so sorry your short life was filled with so much pain. You are so loved Lola and so missed every single day." | "I'm so sorry your short life was filled with so much pain. You are so loved Lola and so missed every single day." |
| 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. | 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. |
| "It's crucial this leads to systemic changes that ensure children like Lola are better protected," she said. | "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 25 April. | Bevan and James will be sentenced on 25 April. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Haverfordwest | Haverfordwest |
| Aberystwyth | Aberystwyth |