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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 over 30 minutes on 19 October 2012.Matthew Tvrdon, 31, drove his van on a "journey of mayhem" for eight miles over 30 minutes on 19 October 2012.
Karina Menzies, 31, died and 17 others were hurt at five locations in Cardiff.Karina Menzies, 31, died and 17 others were hurt at five locations in Cardiff.
Tvrdon, who has paranoid schizophrenia, has admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and seven counts of attempted murder.Tvrdon, who has paranoid schizophrenia, has admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and seven counts of attempted murder.
During the sentencing the court heard seven children were among those hurt as Tvrdon drove his white three-tonne Iveco van into them.During the sentencing the court heard seven children were among those hurt as Tvrdon drove his white three-tonne Iveco van into them.
Tvrdon had deliberately tried to kill at least one adult in each of the five family groups he targeted, the court was told.Tvrdon had deliberately tried to kill at least one adult in each of the five family groups he targeted, the court was told.
Ms Menzies, who was with two of her children, was killed as she walked close to Ely fire station. She was among the third family group to be targeted by Tvrdon. Witnesses saw the van veer off the road and straight into the Menzies. She pushed her children out of the way before the van hit her. Tvrdon, the court was told, turned around and ran over her again.
The court heard written evidence from 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.
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.
During the hearing, the court was told that Tvrdon had been driving his black Renault Clio "erratically and dangerously" on the wrong side of the road in Western Avenue before he switched vehicles. A video was played of Tvrdon driving a Renault Clio car along another main road in Cardiff. It showed him speeding through red lights and into oncoming traffic. He also mounted grass verges.
A video was played of Tvrdon driving the Clio car which showed him speeding through red lights and into oncoming traffic. He also mounted grass verges. He was then seen driving to the car park of West End social club in Ely, where he stopped and got into the van. His ex-girlfriend tried in vain to stop him.
He was then seen driving to the car park of the West End social club in Cowbridge Road West where he stopped 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.
Mobile phone footage of the last incident was shown to the court and gasps of horror came from the public gallery as it was played. The court was shown CCTV footage which showed each of the attacks in detail:
The court was told that Tvrdon then left the scene and was stopped by police near the Baron's Court restaurant in Penarth Road.The court was told that Tvrdon then left the scene and was stopped by police near the Baron's Court restaurant in Penarth Road.
'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.
Later, Tvrdon, who tested negative for drink and drugs, told police he was under stress at work and had split up from his girlfriend.Later, 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 said 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".Tvrdon said 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 Tvrdon had been sleeping rough for a few days in the run up to the incidents and when he got into the van that day had intended to drive to a local industrial estate and go to sleep in it.The court heard Tvrdon had been sleeping rough for a few days in the run up to the incidents and when he got into the van that day had intended to drive to a local industrial estate and go to sleep in it.
But instead he began to drive erratically and targeted pedestrians, the court heard.But instead he began to drive erratically and targeted pedestrians, the court heard.
During police interviews, Tvrdon said he experienced a "fit of fury" during the incident at the fire station where Ms Menzies was fatally injured.During police interviews, Tvrdon said he experienced a "fit of fury" during the incident at the fire station where Ms Menzies was fatally injured.
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.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 hearing was told that Tvrdon had spent time under psychiatric care in 2003 and 2007 after he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia but he had stopped taking his medication in 2011.The hearing was told that Tvrdon had spent time under psychiatric care in 2003 and 2007 after he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia but he had stopped taking his medication in 2011.
He was said to have "behaved strangely and bizarrely in the days before the offences", the court heard. The court heard he "behaved strangely and bizarrely in the days before the offences".
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.
One expert said after the Cardiff attacks Tvrdon was "in the grip of a severe psychotic illness," the prosecution said.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.
The hearing has adjourned until later.
Last month, Tvrdon, of no fixed address, admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and guilty of seven counts of attempted murder.Last month, Tvrdon, of no fixed address, admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and guilty of seven counts of attempted murder.
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.