A mother and her "monster" boyfriend have been found guilty over the death of two-year-old Lola James.
Lola James died in hospital four days after being attacked at her home in Wales, a court heard. She suffered "catastrophic" brain injuries.
Lola's mum's boyfriend, Kyle Bevan denied murdering the youngster a few months after moving in with the family in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. He claimed that Lola had fallen down the stairs after being jumped on by the pet dog.
Read more: Two men deny causing death of girl, 16, by dangerous driving as trial date set
Despite this, a jury at Swansea Crown Court convicted the 31-year-old of murder on Tuesday (April 4). Meanwhile, Lola's mother, Sinead James, was found guilty of causing or allowing her death.
During the four-week trial, prosecutor Caroline Rees KC said Bevan, a self-confessed “spice head”, had launched a “murderous” attack on Lola while using the hours after to try and cover his tracks instead of calling for an ambulance. The court heard how Lola previously sustained injuries, including a damaged nose, black eyes, as well as a cut lip while under Bevan's care.
Mother-of-three James was asleep at the time and it was accepted that she did not take part in the violent assault that resulted in her daughter's death. However, the prosecution stated that James, a prior victim of domestic violence, had failed to protect Lola "instead choosing to prioritise her relationship with him over her own daughter's physical safety".
But it was the prosecution’s case that James, a previous victim of domestic violence, failed to protect Lola from Bevan, “instead choosing to prioritise her relationship with him over her own daughter’s physical safety”.
Prosecutor Caroline Rees KC said added: “She knew her children had sustained injuries whilst in Kyle Bevan’s care in the past and knew that he had a nasty and violent temper, particularly when under the influence of drugs.”
Giving evidence, James called Bevan “a monster” and told the jury: “I never thought he would kill my children, never in a million years.
“If I had gotten him out of the house my daughter would still be alive today.”
Prior to that, on the night of July 16, Bevan had been taking photographs of the young girl using Snapchat filters.
A video of Lola that Bevan had taken in the morning and sent to his mother, Alison Bevan, was played in court.
The disturbing footage showed Bevan demonstrating how Lola was unconscious, by picking up her limp body and attempting to stand her on her feet before letting her fall to the floor, telling the camera: “She’s gone.”
Internet searches made on his phone at about 6.30am included “Two year old just taken a bang to the head, gone all limp and snoring”, the court was told.
The prosecution also noted that none of the searches included reference to a child falling down the stairs.
Bevan did not ask his mother to phone an ambulance for Lola until almost 7.30am, having only woken James up at about 7.20am.
Pictures taken inside the house showed the state of the property, which was described by Ms Rees as “generally dirty, messy and cluttered”.
In contrast, investigators discovered the bath was “spotless, as though it had recently been cleaned”, Ms Rees said.
A child’s wet, vomit and blood-stained grey Frozen onesie was found in the corner of the living room, and when paramedics arrived at the house they noted that Lola appeared wet.
Police believed Bevan had tried to clean up after putting Lola in the bath, either to revive her or to clean her of blood and vomit after his attack.
James told the court how just after midnight she heard “a bang and a scream” coming from Lola’s bedroom.
She said she ran to the room and found Lola sitting on Bevan’s lap, with no visible injuries.
James told the court that Bevan reassured her, saying “I’ve got this”, before she went back to bed.
Hours later she said Bevan woke her to say Lola had fallen down the stairs, and presented a piece of her daughter’s tongue on his finger.
After seeing her daughter unresponsive on the sofa James dialled 999 in tears, and told operators Lola’s face appeared “swollen” and that she was “really scared”.
The court heard Bevan became threatening and aggressive with hospital doctors who questioned him over Lola’s injuries while she was in a life-threatening condition.
Text messages from Bevan to James showed him repeatedly telling her their American bulldog Jessie was responsible for the incident, and questioning her about what she was going to tell the police.
James’ barrister, David Elias KC, said she had “done right by” Lola throughout her short life and she could not have known the significant risk of harm he posed.
Bevan’s defence counsel John Hipkin KC said the fact his client took drugs “does not make him a child murderer”.
More than 100 scratches and bruises were recorded on Lola’s body, and she also had extensive damage to both her eyes. Her brain injuries were compared with those found in car crash victims.
A number of medical experts said the injuries were inconsistent with an accidental fall down carpeted stairs and were more likely the result of “abusive head trauma and physical abuse”.
In a statement released by Dyfed-Powys Police after the verdicts, Lola's biological father, Daniel Thomas, said: “The pain and grief I feel every time I close my eyes and see your perfect little face is unbearable.
“The pain I feel thinking of all the smiles you gave to me and all the smiles I won’t get a chance to give back to you hurts so much.
“Even to say your name shatters my heart to know you can’t hear my voice anymore, the only reason I can stand here today is for hope that you can see me, see that you were loved and that you deserved to live a full, happy, safe life surrounded by the joy that you gave to others.
“I’m so sorry your short life was filled with so much pain. You are so loved Lola and so missed every single day. A great team with much passion has worked together for this day since you’ve left us.
“Special thanks to the investigation team for not leaving any question unanswered or stone unturned, and to my family support officers for keeping me focused and guiding me through the darkest hours along with my closest friends and family.
“The outcome here will never stop the hurt you felt or the hurt that lives inside of me, it’s been a long time coming to see justice and I can only pray that these cruel, evil people that hurt you and allowed you to be hurt, suffer pain and torment until they take their last breath.”
Both James and Bevan will be sentenced on April 25.
Read next:
- "It's an accident waiting to happen": Angry residents put up SPIKES to stop problem parking
- The deadly weapons seized by police after underworld disputes spilled onto the streets
- Teacher 'banned indefinitely' after drunkenly headbutting 16-year-old - and told to pay him £1,295 in compensation
- Energy company wants to charge pizza restaurant owner £32,000 to exit 'extortionate' contract
- Wythenshawe brothers targeted wealthy couples for Rolex and Patek Philippe watches in upmarket Hale - they've now been jailed, along with three others
