Kyle Bevan

The offence

What the court heard

He was found guilty of murder in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, on 17 July 2020. SENTENCING REMARKS OF THE HON. MR JUSTICE GRIFFITHS The Defendants may sit, until I tell them to stand. Lola James was described by her grandmother as a character, who "loved life". Her father said she was "always smiling and happy, a little ray of sunshine", with a laugh which would "fill the room with pure joy." Her photograph reminds us of a beautiful little girl. But you, Kyle Bevan, murdered her when she was only two years old and you, Sinead James, allowed her death. Her death has shattered a family, including the childhood of her surviving sisters. No-one who listened to the Victim Personal Statements in court today could fail to be profoundly moved by them. In 2020, Sinead James lived as a single mother in Haverfordwest with her three daughters: a baby born in May 2019, Lola born in September 2017, and her older sister born in March 2014. Kyle Bevan was not the father of any of these children but very soon after he met Sinead James in February 2020 he was sleeping in her house every night and when lockdown started in March 2020 it was his home. I am sure from the evidence at trial that Kyle was responsible for multiple assaults on the children, before he murdered Lola. Whilst the evidence of some in isolation would have been inconclusive, taken together, it is compelling. • A 2 am text on 19 April 2020 shows that one of the girls had "smashed her face", which Kyle blamed on the stairs. • On 26 April 2020, Sinead James noticed a mark under Lola's mouth. Kyle blamed it on her falling down. • A text at 1.35 am on 4 May shows that Lola was screaming when Kyle was with her. The next day, he told Sinead James that Lola "dropped to the floor" and "bit her lip". The text record shows that Sinead saw Lola spitting at Kyle and making what he described as "a horrible noise" at him. I have no doubt that this was because Lola was protesting, as a child who could not yet speak, the abuse she had suffered. • On 10 May 2020, the baby was photographed by a neighbour with a black eye. Sinead told her that the baby had an accident when Kyle was looking after her. • On 14 May 2020, Kyle was described as having smashed up the house when he had taken a Xanax for recreational purposes. He took a hammer to the light switch. Sinead James was sufficiently concerned to take the children to a neighbour overnight, but she brought them back the next day. • A few days later, Sinead James's cousin…

Around this case

• Swansea Crown Court
• Prosecuted by CPS Cymru-Wales
• Investigated by Dyfed-Powys Police