Two men have been charged with murder following a fatal crash in Newport that claimed the lives of two teenagers on a motorbike. Emergency services responded to Aberthaw Road in the early hours of May 7, where the motorcyclist, 19-year-old Jaydon Bowyer, and his pillion passenger, 16-year-old Ta-Shay Canoville, were pronounced dead at the scene.
Arrests and Charges
An 18-year-old from Newport and a 34-year-old man were arrested on Thursday and subsequently charged with murder, according to police. Both individuals have been remanded into police custody and are scheduled to appear before Newport Magistrates' Court on Monday.
Police Investigation
Detective Superintendent Steven Maloney, the senior investigating officer, stated: "Both Jaydon and Tashay's families are being supported by specialist officers and our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time. We would like to thank the community for their support while we continue to investigate fully the circumstances of these tragic deaths." He added: "We understand that reports of this nature can be concerning to our communities. We have been working around the clock to gather and assess evidence and we have liaised closely with our colleagues in the CPS to reach these two charging decisions. While our enquiries continue over the coming days, you are likely to see an increased number of officers in the area."
Tributes to the Victims
Jaydon Bowyer was described by his girlfriend as having the "purest heart," while his mother said she is "struggling to process the loss." Ta-Shay Canoville's father, Carl, posted a picture of his son alongside four broken heart emojis. Two women, aged 24 and 40, from Newport who were earlier arrested on suspicion of murder have been released.
Emotional Tributes
Jaydon's mother, Sophie Pederson, expressed her grief online: "My boy, my darling darling boy. Why just why. How do I live without you here by my side. You were the best boy ever. Everyone adored you. Love you millions always and forever, your broken-hearted mum." His girlfriend, Rachael Stephenson, wrote: "You were my happiness and the person who made my darkest days feel light again. The pain of losing you so suddenly is something words could never fully explain. We were meant to be till death do us part, with a happy family together like we talked about for hours."
Community Response
A GoFundMe page established to cover funeral costs, with a target of £16,000, has raised over £13,000. Hundreds of people gathered to release white and blue balloons and set off blue flares in memory of the teenagers, with a fireworks display held in the evening. Carl's Sunday league team, Odsal Rangers, held a minute's silence before kick-off and wore black armbands in tribute to Ta-Shay. The team wrote on Facebook: "When me and Callum started this club, the most important thing for us was to build a family. Even though we are only at the beginning of this journey, we stand together as one and will support Carl in every way we can through these incredibly difficult times. Our thoughts, love and prayers are with Carl, his family and everyone affected."
