Kian Bateman was high on laughing gas and used his car as a weapon to kill Shelley Davies (Image: South Wales Police)
A man who was high on laughing gas and "used his car as a weapon" has been jailed after killing a mother of three. Kian Bateman, 19, was inhaling nitrous oxide before he drove his mother’s Seat Ibiza at Shelley Davies, 38, and her partner, David Bratcher, 40, outside the 4th Glamorgan Home Guard Club in Caerau, Cardiff, at 12.30pm on September 27 last year.
Mrs Justice Stacey sentenced Bateman to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday (July 3). He was found guilty of murdering Ms Davies and causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Bratcher. Ms Davies was described in court by her family as a “force of nature” who worked as a Reiki healer for those struggling with addiction.
Mr Bratcher told the court in a statement: "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."
Cardiff Crown Court heard that on the night of the murder Bateman had been at the social club for a General Levy gig with friends.
After the bar closed, Bateman left the venue in the car to visit his girlfriend. She had not yet returned home from work and so he drove back to the club, where a group of people had gathered outside and the atmosphere was growing "ugly".
The court heard Bateman saw his brother in a row with a group of people, during which Ms Davies ended up on the ground.
Bateman then deliberately drove his car at the group, running over Ms Davies, who was lying on the ground, and hitting Mr Bratcher, seriously injuring him. Ms Davies died in hospital on October 18 as a result of her injuries.
Shelley Davies 'was loved dearly' by her family and friends, police said (Image: Family handout/South Wales Police)
Bateman, from Cardiff, admitted causing death and injury by dangerous driving. The court heard that he drove straight over Ms Davies at about 10mph while accelerating towards Mr Bratcher, who he hit before driving off. He handed himself in to police the next day.
Mrs Justice Stacey said she was satisfied and sure that Bateman did not see Ms Davies lying in the road in front of Mr Bratcher and that he did not intend to cause her any harm.
The judge added: "But because she was in the way when you were trying to cause really serious harm to Mr Bratcher, it means that you are guilty of Ms Davies’ murder."
She said Bateman was taking nitrous oxide balloons all evening, including when he was driving. Mrs Justice Stacey said: "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."
Caroline Rees KC, defending, said Bateman's intention was only to seriously harm Mr Bratcher. She added: "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, showed remorse for the murder and has no previous convictions.
On top of his prison sentence, Bateman was disqualified from driving for 21 years and 109 days and ordered to take an extended re-test. He was cleared of the attempted murder of Mr Bratcher.
Anthony Clarke, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "The defendant deliberately used his car as a weapon, with devasting consequence. His actions resulted in the tragic loss of a young woman’s life and injured others.
"Although this case has concluded, our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Shelley Davies over their tragic loss."
Det Supt Mark O’Shea from South Wales Police said Ms Davies was loved dearly and is greatly missed by her family and friends. He added: "Our thoughts remain with them today as they have been throughout this horrendous ordeal."
