Teen jailed after driving into couple outside club and killing woman
A teenager who killed a woman by running over her was sentenced to life imprisonment with at least 17 years after being found guilty of murder.
Kian Bateman, 19, deliberately hit Shelley Davies, 38, and her partner David Bratcher, 40, outside the 4th Glamorgan Homeguard Club in Caerau, Cardiff, at 00:30 on September 27 last year.
Both were seriously injured and Davies died in hospital three weeks later.
Bateman was cleared of attempting to murder Bratcher, but was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
He admitted inhaling nitrous oxide from balloons that evening but denied the drug, also known as laughing gas, made him feel aggressive.
Davies, who was hit by the car, was taken to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, but died from his injuries on October 18. 40-year-old Bratcher, who was seriously injured, was also treated at the same hospital.
Cardiff Crown Court heard that the couple were at a music event organized by reggae artist and DJ General Levy at the social club that night, when Bateman’s brother and Bratcher had a “disagreement”.
During this argument, Davies found himself on the ground.
While this was going on, Bateman returned to the area and “making a split-second decision” accelerated towards Bratcher, Ms Justice Stacey said.
Bateman’s aunt Louise was also hit by a car.
The court heard the defendant did not see Davies, who was lying between the car and Bratcher, in the dark and “passed directly over him” at 10 miles per hour.
Bateman, of Heol Muston in Ely, then hit Bratcher, who was then thrown onto the bonnet of the car.
Stacey said Bateman did not stop or call for help and then abandoned the Seat Ibiza, which belonged to his mother.
Dean Pulling KC, who prosecuted the case alongside Michael Jones KC, read victim impact statements in court, including on behalf of David Bratcher.
The 40-year-old man said he couldn’t stop thinking about “how close my children came to losing both their mother and father.”
She added that having to watch CCTV showing Bateman driving towards her and running over her partner was “the most traumatic experience I’ve ever had”.
He continued: “[Shelley] “He was a big part of our lives, he kept our family together,” he said, explaining that he now had to raise his children without him.
“Losing her so suddenly and violently changed our lives forever,” he said.
“I feel a constant sense of loss and sadness.”
‘Our rock, our glue’
Davies’ 17-year-old daughter, Lilli May Davies, said in a statement that this was a “very traumatic experience”.
“He was my best friend.
“It’s hard to understand how I’ll manage the rest of my life without him.
“He was our rock, our glue, holding us together through everything.”
He added that he now gets jealous when he sees others with their mothers: “The closest thing to a hug is hugging a grave.”
A statement on behalf of Davies’ mother, Sharon Hillard, also read: “Shelley was a huge character in our lives.
“It is impossible to reconcile the way he was taken and there is no justification for the brutality that cost his life.
“Our entire family is left with a void that can never be filled.”
During the hearing, Stacey said she wanted to take some time to think about Davies and said those who knew the mum-of-three were left “saddened by the loss of their kind and wonderful friend”.
“No sentence this court can impose will bring Ms Davies back,” he added.
Addressing Bateman, he said: “You used your mother’s car as a weapon to hurt Mr. Bratcher.”
He said Bateman accepted he “didn’t mean to hurt Ms Davies” but said he was “in the way” of trying to cause “serious harm” to Bratcher.
Stacey also admitted Bateman “turned himself in the next day” and “expressed immense and genuine remorse for his death”, adding that he pleaded guilty to causing her death and had “never been in trouble with the police before”.
Bateman will serve 16 years and 109 days in prison for Davies’ murder, after which he will be released on license for the rest of his life.
He was sentenced concurrently to five years in prison for Bratcher’s injuries.
Bateman will also be unable to drive again for 21 years and 109 days.
