Kian Bateman, 19, was inhaling nitrous oxide before he used his mother's Seat Ibiza as a weapon to kill Shelley Davies, 38, a mother of three and Reiki healer for addiction sufferers. The incident occurred outside the 4th Glamorgan Home Guard Club in Caerau, Cardiff, at 12:30 pm 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 her partner, David Bratcher, 40.
Background and Incident
On the night of the murder, Bateman had been at the social club for a General Levy gig with friends. After the bar closed, he left to visit his girlfriend but returned when she was not home. Outside the club, tensions escalated, and Bateman saw his brother arguing with a group. Ms Davies ended up on the ground during the altercation. Bateman then deliberately drove his car at the group, running over Ms Davies and hitting Mr Bratcher, who suffered serious injuries. Ms Davies died in hospital on October 18. Bateman admitted causing death and injury by dangerous driving but denied murder. The court heard he drove over Ms Davies at about 10 mph while accelerating toward Mr Bratcher before fleeing. He surrendered to police the next day.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
Mrs Justice Stacey stated she was satisfied Bateman did not see Ms Davies lying in the road and did not intend to harm her. She said, "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." The judge noted Bateman had been taking nitrous oxide balloons all evening, including while driving. She added, "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, calling it "an offence committed in seconds only, albeit with the most tragic of outcomes." The court heard Bateman has a learning disability, showed remorse, and had no previous convictions. He was disqualified from driving for 21 years and 109 days and ordered to take an extended re-test. He was cleared of attempted murder.
Victim Impact and Reactions
Mr Bratcher said 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." Ms Davies was described by her family as a "force of nature" who worked as a Reiki healer for those struggling with addiction. Anthony Clarke from the Crown Prosecution Service said, "The defendant deliberately used his car as a weapon, with devastating consequence. His actions resulted in the tragic loss of a young woman's life and injured others." 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."
