Stepfather launched fatal attack on two-year-old girl then messaged her mother to ask ‘How are we going to chill later?’, court hears

A stepfather launched a ‘frenzied’ fatal attack on a two-year-old girl before messaging her mother to say: ‘How are we going to chill later?’, a murder trial heard.

Kyle Bevan, 31, sent a series of messages to girlfriend Sinead James, 30, while her daughter Lola James lay critically ill in hospital.

The toddler suffered 101 different injuries and died from a catastrophic brain injury prosecutors say was caused in an ‘extremely violent attack’, allegedly carried in her Pembrokeshire home by Bevan.

Swansea Crown Court heard how Bevan told James –  who is on trial for causing or allowing the death of a child – he had a ‘love hate’ relationship with the baby girl.   

In one text Bevan told James he would ‘never hurt her’ before adding: ‘Neither would you I know babe. Lola loves you and she got a love hate thing with me lol xxxxx.’

Then, as police were boarding up James’s home, Bevan messaged her asking: ‘How are we both going to go to sleep and chill later?’

Lola suffered extensive damage to every part of both retinas along with a catastrophic brain injury and died four days later

Kyle Bevan, 31, is said to have killed the two-year-old before waiting an hour to phone for medical help

Lola’s mother Sinead James, 30, has been charged with causing or allowing the death of a child

Prosecutor Caroline Rees KC said he was arrested just after 4.30pm on July 17, 2020 after asking James what she was going to tell police.

The court heard James replied: ‘Well I’m saying exactly what you told me. I can remember what you said from word to word.’

Mrs Rees said: ‘The prosecution say that he was clearly worried about the interview process because phone records show that at 15.15 he contacted Sinead James to make sure she was going to give an account consistent with his.’

A court heard Bevan had been left downstairs alone with Lola at the family home when he launched a ‘frenzied and extremely violent attack’.

But 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.

The footage was taken 26 minutes after Bevan had already carried out a series of internet searches at 6.32am.

One search said: ‘My two-year-old child has just taken a bang to the head and gone all limp and snoring. What’s wrong?’

The court heard Lola suffered 101 surface injuries along with a catastrophic brain injury and died four days later at Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital in Cardiff.

Lola James suffered 101 injuries, including a catastrophic brain injury, the court heard

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.

A court heard James failed to protect her daughter when she allowed Bevan to move into their home four months earlier in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire.

Mrs Rees said she knew her boyfriend had a ‘nasty and violent temper’ but chose to ‘prioritise her relationship with him over her own daughter’s physical safety.’

The court heard Bevan carried out internet searches at 6.32am before he waited until 7.28am to tell his mother Alison Bevan to call an ambulance.

Mrs Rees said: ‘He needed the time to cover his tracks. When paramedics arrived they found that Lola had been dressed but was wet and that Lola was seriously ill.

‘Bruises were noted on Lola’s forehead. Kyle Bevan continued to try and explain things away by blaming the family dog for pushing Lola downstairs.’

The court heard doctors found 101 surface injuries on Lola including ‘bruising all over her little body and grazing of the skin.’

She also suffered extensive damage to every part of both retinas along with a catastrophic brain injury and died four days later.

Bevan claimed Lola had two falls – the first fall when she fell from a bunk bed ladder in her room at night and the second in the morning when the dog pushed her down the stairs.

Photos from police crime scene investigators showed a ‘clean and shiny bath’ while the rest of the house was piled with clutter and toys.

A search of the house revealed a ‘child’s wet and vomit and blood stained grey onesie’ in the living room and curtains and a sheet in the washing machine.

James, pictured outside court, denies causing or allowing the death of a child 

Earlier, jurors heard how James’s was told her lover was dangerous just eight days before he allegedly murdered her daughter.  

A court heard the concerned woman messaged James on Facebook to say Bevan was a ‘child protection risk’ just eight days before he allegedly attacked Lola.

The message said: ‘I’m concerned about the fact that he is around your children.’

Bevan’s mother Alison, who received a ‘disturbing 22 second film’ from her son showing an injured Lola as he tried to prop her, said she did not watch the video and waited until she was told to call an ambulance at 7.28am.

She said: ‘I could kick myself and that’s what I have got to live with for the rest of my life. I should have acted quicker.’

Ms Bevan said she has never watched the clip of Lola which shows Bevan trying to stand her up as she falls to the floor with a bump.

She said: ‘I have never watched that video to this day. I was too frightened to watch it.

‘I was worried in case that poor child had passed away and he was trying to do something with her.’

The court heard Ms Bevan, who is a healthcare support assistant, thought her son might have believed Lola was asleep because he was ‘thick’.

She urged him to wake James up and to call an ambulance – before she made a 999 call herself.

James, of Neyland, denies causing or allowing the death of a child. Bevan, of Aberystwyth, denies murder.

The trial, due to last four weeks, continues.