A teenage driver high on nitrous oxide deliberately used his car as a weapon, killing a mother of three and seriously injuring her partner before being sentenced to life in prison. Kian Bateman, 19, must serve a minimum of 17 years.
Bateman struck Shelley Davies, 38, and her partner David Bratcher, 40, outside the 4th Glamorgan Homeguard Club in Caerau, Cardiff, at approximately 12:30 a.m. on September 27 of last year. Davies sustained complications and died in a hospital three weeks later.
Bateman was acquitted of the attempted murder of Bratcher but was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and murdering Davies. She died on October 18.
The Cardiff Crown Court heard that Davies and Bratcher had been attending a music event featuring reggae artist General Levy when a disagreement occurred between Bateman's brother and Bratcher. During this confrontation, Davies fell to the ground. The court was told that Bateman then made a spontaneous decision to accelerate his car towards Bratcher, not seeing Davies on the floor.
Bateman drove his vehicle over Davies at about 10 mph before striking Bratcher, who was thrown over the hood of the car. Mrs. Justice Stacey noted that Bateman did not stop or seek assistance and subsequently abandoned the Seat Ibiza, which belonged to his mother.
Prosecution counsel Dean Pulling KC, along with Michael Jones KC, presented victim impact statements in court, including one from David Bratcher. He stated that his children nearly lost both parents on the night of the incident. Bratcher described watching the CCTV footage of Bateman hitting him and running over his partner as the most traumatic experience of his life.
"[Shelley] was a huge part of our lives, she held our family together," Bratcher said, explaining that he now faces raising their children without her. "Losing her in such a sudden and violent way has changed our lives forever. I feel a constant sense of loss and sadness."