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Cardiff hit-and-runs: Matthew Tvrdon on 'journey of mayhem' Cardiff hit-and-runs: Matthew Tvrdon on 'journey of mayhem'
(35 minutes later)
A hit-and-run driver killed a mother-of-three after deliberately setting out to hit her and her children like "skittles", Cardiff Crown Court heard.A hit-and-run driver killed a mother-of-three after deliberately setting out to hit her and her children like "skittles", Cardiff Crown Court heard.
Matthew Tvrdon, 31, drove his van on a "journey of mayhem" for eight miles for nearly 30 minutes.Matthew Tvrdon, 31, drove his van on a "journey of mayhem" for eight miles for nearly 30 minutes.
Karina Menzies, 31, died and 13 others were hurt at five locations in Cardiff.Karina Menzies, 31, died and 13 others were hurt at five locations in Cardiff.
Tvrdon has admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and seven counts of attempted murder. He is being sentenced.Tvrdon has admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and seven counts of attempted murder. He is being sentenced.
Seven children were among those hurt as Tvrdon, who has paranoid schizophrenia, drove his white three-tonne Iveco van into them on 19 October.Seven children were among those hurt as Tvrdon, who has paranoid schizophrenia, drove his white three-tonne Iveco van into them on 19 October.
Ms Menzies was killed as she walked close to Ely fire station.Ms Menzies was killed as she walked close to Ely fire station.
The court was told of witnesses who described seeing Ms Menzies and her children hit by a white van. The court heard how witnesses who described seeing the van veer off the road and straight into Ms Menzies and her children. She attempted to push one of her children out of the way of the van before impact.
The van veered off the road and straight into Ms Menzies and her children.
Prosecutors said witnesses had described how he "deliberately" set out to hit them like "skittles" before turning around and running her over again.Prosecutors said witnesses had described how he "deliberately" set out to hit them like "skittles" before turning around and running her over again.
Another witness described how Ms Menzies was semi-conscious and her children were calling out for their mother.Another witness described how Ms Menzies was semi-conscious and her children were calling out for their mother.
Tvrdon, of no fixed address, admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and guilty of seven counts of attempted murder at a hearing last month.Tvrdon, of no fixed address, admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and guilty of seven counts of attempted murder at a hearing last month.
He also pleaded guilty to two counts of grievous bodily harm, five counts of actual bodily harm, two attempted grievous bodily harm, one count of assault by beating and one charge of dangerous driving.He also pleaded guilty to two counts of grievous bodily harm, five counts of actual bodily harm, two attempted grievous bodily harm, one count of assault by beating and one charge of dangerous driving.
Ian Murphy QC, prosecuting, said it was accepted Tvrdon was "suffering from an abnormality of mental function" which substantially impaired his ability for rational judgement.Ian Murphy QC, prosecuting, said it was accepted Tvrdon was "suffering from an abnormality of mental function" which substantially impaired his ability for rational judgement.
The court was shown a video of Tvrdon driving his black Renault Clio "erratically and dangerously" on the wrong side of the road in Western Avenue on 19 October.The court was shown a video of Tvrdon driving his black Renault Clio "erratically and dangerously" on the wrong side of the road in Western Avenue on 19 October.
He sped through red lights, drove at speed into oncoming traffic and mounted grass verges.He sped through red lights, drove at speed into oncoming traffic and mounted grass verges.
He was then seen driving to the car park of the West End social club in Cowbridge Road West where he parks it and gets into the van, despite his girlfriend trying to stop him. He was then seen driving to the car park of the West End social club in Cowbridge Road West where he parked it and got into the van, despite his girlfriend trying to stop him.
The prosecution said it was the start of a "journey of mayhem" covering eight miles and taking nearly half-an-hour.The prosecution said it was the start of a "journey of mayhem" covering eight miles and taking nearly half-an-hour.
The court was told all victims were unknown to Tvrdon, who tried to kill at least one adult in each of the five family groups he targeted:The court was told all victims were unknown to Tvrdon, who tried to kill at least one adult in each of the five family groups he targeted:
Gasps of horror came from the public gallery as mobile phone footage of this incident was shown in court.Gasps of horror came from the public gallery as mobile phone footage of this incident was shown in court.
Tvrdon left the scene and was brought to a stop by police near the Baron's Court restaurant in Penarth Road.Tvrdon left the scene and was brought to a stop by police near the Baron's Court restaurant in Penarth Road.
'Horrendous''Horrendous'
He attempted to resist arrest and tried to assault a police officer with a crook lock, before being sprayed with CS gas.He attempted to resist arrest and tried to assault a police officer with a crook lock, before being sprayed with CS gas.
Tvrdon, who tested negative for drink and drugs, told police he was under stress at work and had split up from his girlfriend.Tvrdon, who tested negative for drink and drugs, told police he was under stress at work and had split up from his girlfriend.
He told police what he had done was a "horrendous" thing and in his version of events, he said he felt "hazy" and felt he had been personally threatened by others.He told police what he had done was a "horrendous" thing and in his version of events, he said he felt "hazy" and felt he had been personally threatened by others.
Tvrdon had been sleeping rough for a few days in the run up to the incidents.Tvrdon had been sleeping rough for a few days in the run up to the incidents.
When he got into the van that day, he told police he intended to drive to a local industrial estate and go to sleep in it.When he got into the van that day, he told police he intended to drive to a local industrial estate and go to sleep in it.
The court heard he had not been feeling "right about himself or his mind and this was not a feeling he had before in his previous mental health episodes".The court heard he had not been feeling "right about himself or his mind and this was not a feeling he had before in his previous mental health episodes".
He felt like his memory "had been erased", felt awful about what happened and felt guilt.He felt like his memory "had been erased", felt awful about what happened and felt guilt.
He told police that during the incident at the fire station he had experienced a "fit of fury", the court was told.He told police that during the incident at the fire station he had experienced a "fit of fury", the court was told.
Talking about the attacks generally, Tvrdon, who has no previous convictions, told police: "It felt like what I wanted to do was kill these people but in actually doing it, it felt really wrong," the court heard.Talking about the attacks generally, Tvrdon, who has no previous convictions, told police: "It felt like what I wanted to do was kill these people but in actually doing it, it felt really wrong," the court heard.
The court then heard Tvrdon was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic and previously he had spells in mental hospitals in 2003 and 2007.
He was said to have "behaved strangely and bizarrely in the days before the offences".
The court heard he was from a stable family environment but there is a history of mental illness on both sides of the family.
One expert said after the Cardiff attacks Tvrdon was "in the grip of a severe psychotic illness," the prosecution said.
Ms Menzies' brother Craig and sister Sam were in court for the sentencing.Ms Menzies' brother Craig and sister Sam were in court for the sentencing.
The hearing has adjourned until later.