Kian Bateman, 19, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years for the murder of Shelley Davies, a 38-year-old mother of three, whom he ran over outside a Cardiff social club while inhaling nitrous oxide balloons. Cardiff Crown Court heard that Bateman drove his mother's Seat Ibiza at a group outside the 4th Glamorgan Home Guard Club in September last year, striking Davies as she lay on the ground and seriously injuring her partner, David Bratcher. Davies died from her injuries a month later, on October 18.
Details of the Incident
The court was told that Bateman had been inhaling nitrous oxide balloons "all evening," including while driving. He had attended a General Levy gig at the social club with friends and left briefly to visit his girlfriend, but returned when she was not home. The atmosphere outside the venue had become "ugly," and Bateman saw his brother in a dispute with a group of people, during which Davies ended up on the ground. Bateman then deliberately drove his car at the group, running over Davies and hitting Bratcher, then aged 40, causing him serious harm. He did not stop but drove off, handing himself in the next day.
Judge's Remarks
Mrs Justice Stacey stated: "You drove straight over (Ms Davies) at about 10mph as you accelerated towards Mr Bratcher, who you then hit with the car. You did not stop, but drove off… you handed yourself in the next day." She accepted that Bateman did not see Davies lying in the road and did not intend to harm her, but because she was in the way when he was trying to cause serious harm to Bratcher, he was guilty of her murder. The judge added: "You were taking nitrous oxide balloons all evening, including when you were driving. I accept that you became scared and panicky there in the car… but you could have reversed out of the situation. Instead, you accelerated and drove at Mr Bratcher intending to cause him serious harm."
Impact on the Family
Davies was described by her family as a "force of nature" who worked as a Reiki healer for those struggling with addiction. In a victim impact statement, Bratcher said: "She was the person I loved, my best friend, and the mother of our three children. Losing her in such a sudden and violent way has changed our lives forever."
Defence and Sentencing
Caroline Rees KC, defending, argued: "The intention was only to seriously harm David Bratcher. There was a total lack of premeditation here, this is an offence committed in seconds only, albeit with the most tragic of outcomes. He was 18 years and seven months old at the time of the offence and he hadn’t been driving for long." The court heard Bateman has a learning disability, had shown remorse, and had no previous convictions. In addition to the life sentence, he was disqualified from driving for 21 years and 109 days and ordered to take an extended re-test.
Prosecution and Police Statements
Anthony Clarke of the Crown Prosecution Service said: "The strong evidence presented by the Crown Prosecution Service at trial satisfied the jury that this was no accident. The defendant deliberately used his car as a weapon, with devastating consequence. His actions resulted in the tragic loss of a young woman’s life and injured others." Detective Superintendent Mark O’Shea of South Wales Police added: "Shelley Davies, a mum of three, went on a night out to watch live music at a local social club with her partner David Bratcher, but tragically never went home after suffering fatal injuries. The court found that Kian Bateman deliberately drove at Shelley and seriously injured David. Shelley was loved dearly, and is greatly missed, by her family and friends. Our thoughts remain with them today as they have been throughout this horrendous ordeal."
