Toddler, two, ‘murdered by her stepfather in a rage’ suffered 101 injuries ‘similar to that of a high-speed car crash, not from being pushed down the stairs by the family dog’, trial hears
- Lola James, 2, died 4 days after stepfather Kyle Bevan, 31, allegedly attacked her
- Doctor said ‘abuse’ most likely cause but Bevan said dog pushed her down stairs
A two-year-old girl who was allegedly murdered by her raging stepfather suffered 101 injuries including brain damage similar to what is sustained in high-speed car crashes, a court heard.
Toddler Lola James died four days after she was allegedly attacked at home by her stepfather Kyle Bevan, 31, who claims the family dog pushed her down the stairs.
A jury were shown a full list of her horrific wounds, bruises and physical damage in the family home, as a doctor told the court that ‘physical abuse is the most likely cause’ as her injuries were too ‘catastrophic’ to be explained by a fall down the stairs.
Lola sustained her injuries at Bevan’s home in Haverfordwest, Wales, in July 2020 – and mother Sinead James, 30, said she was asleep at the time.
Giving harrowing evidence, paediatrician Dr Deborah Stalker said there was not one part of Lola’s body that was not bruised.
Toddler Lola James (pictured), two died four days after she was allegedly attacked at home by her stepfather Kyle Bevan
Lola’s stepfather Kyle Bevan (pictured), 31, claims the family dog pushed her down the stairs
She said: ‘In my opinion Lola’s severe and extensive injuries cannot be explained by a fall down the stairs.
‘Physical abuse is the most likely cause. A stair fall does not explain the catastrophic and extensive injuries to the head with bleeding to both eyes.’
Swansea Crown Court heard the most likely cause of Lola’s brain injuries was shaking while she also suffered ‘gripping’ injuries to her neck.
Dr Stalker said: ‘An extensive subdural haemorrhage is usually the result of a high velocity road traffic collision where a child is thrown from the collision, or a fall from a great height, such as a fall from a balcony or bedroom window of more than 10 feet.
‘The very severe and extensive injuries on Lola are not explained by a fall down domestic stairs.
‘The most likely cause, in my opinion, is non-accidental injury, purposefully-inflicted injury, or physical abuse – the three terms are synonymous’
The court heard bruising to Lola’s ears was rarely the result of an accident.
Dr Stalker said: ‘It is usually the result of a direct blow, not one from a fall.
‘Injuries to the neck are also very unlikely to be caused by accident and can be caused by strangulation.
‘The whole picture of Lola’s head injuries led me to conclude they were caused by abusive head trauma.’
Lola sustained her injuries at Bevan’s home in Haverfordwest in July 2020 – and mother Sinead James (pictured outside Swansea Crown court on March 8), 30, said she was asleep at the time
The court heard injuries to Lola’s back and legs were extensive and caused by a forceful blow
The court heard injuries to Lola’s back and legs were extensive and caused by a forceful blow.
Dr Stalker added: ‘It looks like three or four blows with a weapon.’
Prosecutor Caroline Rees KC said Bevan had been left alone with Lola at the family home when he launched a ‘frenzied and extremely violent attack.’
He failed to call an ambulance immediately and instead filmed a ‘disturbing 22 second film’ of seriously injured Lola as he tried to prop her up.
Bevan was arrested by police and claimed the family dog had pushed Lola down the stairs at the home in Haverfordwest in July 2020.
Mother James told police she was asleep when Lola suffered a series of horrific injuries – and claimed to have no reason to think Bevan would harm her.
Lola was rushed to Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest before she was transferred to Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital in Cardiff.
James, of Neyland, denies causing or allowing the death of a child. Bevan, of Aberystwyth, denies murder.
The trial continues.
