Teen who took laughing gas before driving into couple outside club guilty of murder

A teenager who killed a woman by driving into her has been found guilty of murder.

Kian Bateman, 19, deliberately drove into Shelley Davies, 38, and her partner David Bratcher, 40, outside the 4th Glamorgan Homeguard Club in Caerau, Cardiff on 27 September last year.

Both suffered serious injuries and Davies died in hospital three weeks later.

Cardiff Crown Court heard Bateman drove at the couple after Bratcher had been involved in "an altercation" with Bateman's brother, Kai. Bateman's aunt Louise was also hit by the car.

Bateman, who shouted "I didn't see Shelley, I didn't see her, I didn't see her" as he was led from the dock, will be sentenced on 3 July.

Davies, who had been at a music event by ragga artist and DJ General Levy at the social club with her partner that night, suffered rib, arm, pelvis and hip fractures and multiple wounds and abrasions.

She then suffered complications, contracted multiple infections and went into septic shock.

Bateman admitted he had been inhaling nitrous oxide from balloons that evening but denied the drug - also known as laughing gas - made him feel aggressive or have negative feelings.

The trial was told he accepted he had caused Davies's death but the case hinged on whether it could be proven he deliberately drove at her or intended to cause her serious injury.

Following his arrest Bateman told police that his car had been surrounded by people and said he was "frightened" he was "going to be beaten up".

He said he drove the car to get away and had "no knowledge" of colliding with anyone until his cousin called him the next morning.

But prosecution barrister Michael Jones KC previously told jurors that CCTV footage showed the car was not surrounded by people.

There were loud gasps in the packed public gallery as the verdicts were returned.

Bateman, from Heol Muston in Ely, was found guilty of the murder of Davies but cleared of the attempted murder of Bratcher, although he was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

The trial had earlier heard that Bateman did not stop or call for help, drove at speed and then abandoned the Seat Ibiza.