Lola James: Mother’s boyfriend denies killing two-year-old girl in ‘violent attack’, court hears

Published

2 years ago

March 8, 2023

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A two-year-old girl was killed by her mother’s boyfriend in a “frenzied and extremely violent attack”, a court has heard.

Kyle Bevan, 31, denies murdering Lola James.

Swansea Crown Court heard how he claimed the toddler’s injuries were caused by the family dog pushing her down the stairs.

Lola died on 21 July 2020 after suffering “catastrophic” head trauma, as well as 101 external injuries and damage to both of her eyes.

Bevan, from Queen’s Road in Aberystwyth, southwest Wales, had only moved into the family home in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, four months previously.

Sinead James, Lola’s mother, is also standing trial at Swansea Crown Court, having been charged with causing or allowing her death.

Murder accused ‘delayed calling ambulance’

Opening the prosecution’s case in court, Caroline Rees KC said Bevan had subjected Lola to a “brutal” assault while alone with her between the evening of 16 July and the morning of 17 July in 2020.

The court heard that Bevan was an amphetamine user and prone to violent outbursts.

Jurors were shown internet searches, including one made at around 6:30am on 17 July, which said: “my 2 year old child has just taken a bang to the head and gone all limp and snoring. What’s wrong.”

They were also shown pictures that Bevan had taken of Lola’s injuries, as well as a video he shot which showed her unconscious, badly injured and unable to stand.

Prosecuting, Ms Rees said that Bevan waited another hour before calling for an ambulance at around 7:30am.

She added that Lola appeared to be wet when paramedics arrived, and it is believed, Ms Rees said, that Lola had been scrubbed clean.

‘Brutal and extremely violent’

Investigators found a vomit and blood-stained grey onesie in the corner of the living room, while noting that the bath was spotless, in contrast to poor cleanliness in the rest of the house.

The prosecution accused Bevan of making up a “deliberate lie” about the family dog causing Lola’s injuries, as well as cleaning to try to cover up what he had done.

Ms Rees continued: “We say that the injuries noted to Lola, including those which caused her premature death, were the result of a brutal and extremely violent physical assault upon her by Kyle Bevan whilst they were alone together.

“We say that, rather than face up to that which he did to the little girl, Kyle Bevan immediately tried to save himself.”

The prosecutor added that Lola’s injuries were “wholly inconsistent with an accidental injury” and instead show “that she was the victim of what must have been a frenzied, brutal and violent attack at the hands of somebody she should have been able to trust”.

Mother was ‘well aware’ of risk

The prosecution accepts Sinead James’s claim that she was asleep when her daughter sustained her injuries.

But they argue that she should have known of the threat Bevan posed to Lola after previous violent incidents.

Lola’s mother was “well aware” of Bevan’s temper and knew she had suffered injuries in his case in the past, the prosecution also argued.

Lola died at Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital in Cardiff, four days after the alleged attack. She was two years and nine months old.

Those who knew her described Lola as a “happy, beautiful and busy little girl”, according to Ms Rees.

“Her life had barely started,” she added.

The trial continues.

UK

Boy, 14, stabbed to death on bus in Woolwich, southeast London

Published

4 hours ago

January 7, 2025

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Boy, 14, stabbed to death on bus in Woolwich, southeast London

A 14-year-old boy has been stabbed to death on a bus in Woolwich, in southeast London.

Police were called around 2.30pm to reports of a stabbing on a bus on Woolwich Church Road near the junction with the A205 South Circular Road.

A boy who police said had received stab wounds was treated by paramedics, but he died at the scene shortly after they arrived.

Officers have launched an investigation into the incident.

No arrests have been made so far but police are appealing for witnesses of the incident on the 472 bus.

A cordon and road closures were in place as of shortly before 5pm.

UK

Liverpool hospital declares critical incident over ‘exceptionally high’ demand on A&E amid rising flu cases

Published

8 hours ago

January 7, 2025

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Liverpool hospital declares critical incident over 'exceptionally high' demand on A&E amid rising flu cases

The Royal Liverpool University Hospital has declared a critical incident due to “exceptionally high” demand on A&E and patients being admitted to wards.

The hospital said there had been a spike in people with flu and respiratory illnesses going to emergency departments in recent weeks.

The number of people in England’s hospital with flu quadrupled in the last month, according to NHS data.

A spokesperson for the hospital said it had a “comprehensive plan in place” and was “taking all the necessary actions to manage the challenging circumstances”.

“We are working with partner organisations to ensure those that are medically fit can leave hospital safely and at the earliest opportunity,” they added.

The hospital warned some people would experience delays as it prioritises the sickest patients.

People whose case isn’t an emergency are being asked to see their GP, pharmacy or walk-in centre – or call the 111 service for advice.

The Royal Liverpool University Hospital is in the city centre and is the biggest hospital in Merseyside and Cheshire.

Declaring a critical incident can happen when a hospital is experiencing exceptional demand, or sometimes if there is a serious problem with staffing levels.

It indicates it can’t function as normal and allows it to take extra measures to protect patients, such as prioritising the most unwell people and getting support from other agencies.

It could last hours, a few days, or weeks if necessary.

A critical incident was also declared on Friday by the NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board.

It said it had seen almost four times as many inpatients compared with last year and urged people with flu to avoid going to A&E.

There have been warnings this winter of a so-called “quad-demic”– with flu, vomiting bug norovirus, COVID and RSV circulating at the same time.

The NHS provides vaccinations against three of the four; flu, COVID-19 and RSV (a common cause of chest infection in babies).

UK

Zendaya and Tom Holland engagement rumours swirl after Golden Globes

Published

10 hours ago

January 7, 2025

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Zendaya and Tom Holland engagement rumours swirl after Golden Globes

Zendaya and Tom Holland are rumoured to be engaged after the 28-year-old actress appeared at the Golden Globes wearing a massive diamond ring on her left ring finger.

They met after working together on 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming and confirmed their relationship in 2021.

Sky News has contacted representatives for Zendaya and Holland for comment.

Zendaya chatted to journalists on the Globes red carpet, where she was nominated for best actress in a musical or comedy for her role in the romantic sports drama Challengers.

Despite being pipped to the prize by Demi Moore, who won for her role in body horror The Substance, there was plenty of buzz around Zendaya’s large diamond ring, which was clearly visible throughout the show.

A Los Angeles Times reporter appeared to ask Zendaya about it, holding up her own engagement ring and pointing to it. Zendaya responded by showing her left-hand ring.

The reporter then asked if the actor was engaged and “she kept showing her ring, smiled coyly and shrugged her shoulders mysteriously”.

Holland, who is also 28, wasn’t at Sunday’s Globes.

Zendaya wore an orange Louis Vuitton ball gown, and diamond jewellery from Bulgari – for which she’s an ambassador – on the Globes red carpet.

But while the Dune star’s other jewellery items were listed in a press release, there was no mention of the ring on her left finger.

Zendaya, who rose to fame after her breakout role in Disney sitcom Shake It Up, became a household star after starring in Euphoria.

Tom Holland, who is the son of British actor/comedian Dominic Holland, won a role in Billy Elliot The Musical as a child, and has gone on to achieve global fame playing Spider-Man in six Marvel Cinematic Universe movies.