TEENAGER SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR KILLING MOTHER-OF-THREE WITH CAR

Kian Bateman, 19, was sentenced to life in prison on Friday for driving his car into Shelley Davis, 38, outside the 4th Glamorgan Homeguard Club in Caerau, Cardiff on 27 September. Davis, a mother-of-three, suffered serious injuries in the incident and died from multiple organ failure and complications from the crash two weeks later on 18 October. Bateman must serve at least 17 years before becoming eligible for parole. He was also convicted of causing grievous bodily harm to David Bratcher, 40, Davis's partner, who was seriously injured in the same incident.

Cardiff Crown Court heard that Bateman, 18 at the time, had been at a music event featuring reggae artist and DJ General Levy. After leaving the venue to visit his girlfriend and finding she had not returned from work, he returned to the club. A disagreement involving Bateman's brother and Bratcher had erupted outside the social club, and the atmosphere was becoming "ugly" when Davis fell to the ground during the confrontation. According to the court, Bateman made "a spur of the moment decision" to accelerate his vehicle towards Bratcher, not seeing Davis on the floor below.

Bateman's Seat Ibiza reached a speed of 10mph when it struck the pair, throwing Davis over the bonnet. Justice Stacey stated during sentencing that Bateman did not stop at the scene but drove away. Bateman handed himself in to police the following day. The court heard Bateman had been under the influence of nitrous oxide at the time of the incident.