THE PAIR found guilty of causing the death of two-year-old Lola James have today (Apr 25) been sentenced at Swansea Crown Court.
Kyle Bevan, 31, was found guilty of murdering Lola by inflicting catastrophic head injuries during a ‘frenzied, brutal and violent attack’ during an incident at the tots home in Princess Royal Way, Haverfordwest on July 17, 2020.
Sinead James, 30, Lola’s mother, was asleep upstairs when the attack happened.
James was found guilty of allowing or causing the death of a child by failing to protect Lola from her ‘volatile and unpredictable’ partner.
The pair were found unanimously guilty by a jury of their peers on April 4, following a four week trial.
At today’s sentencing hearing, Caroline Rees KC for the Crown Prosecution Service told the court that according to sentencing guidelines, Bevan should be sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 15 years, however asked the court to take into account the major aggravating features which would suggest a very significant increase in the minimum term.
She said: “As a starting point alone on count 1, murder, is that of 15 years.
“Whilst we make that submission, by no means is that the end point in this case.
” The serious features of this offence, would merit a very significant uplift”
Ms Rees KC went on to tell the court that they must consider the fact that Lola was a very young child at the time of the incident, just two years and 10 months, was extremely vulnerable and the totality of injuries inflicted on her tiny body.
Lola had multiple extensive internal head injuries and no less than 101 surface injuries on her body. During evidence in the trial, one peadiatrician described Lola as “one of the most battered and bruised bodies” she had ever seen.
Mr Hipkin KC, Bevan’s defence barrister offered no mitigation on behalf of his defendant and publicly agreed with the submission with the prosecution with regards to minimum term and accepted all three aggravating factors.
In terms of the sentencing for Lola’s mother, Sinead James, the prosecution asked the court to start at a minimum starting point of nine years imprisonment.
Ms Rees KC said it was the Crown’s submission that Domestic violence and the loss of her child should not be accepted by the court as a mitigating factor on whether to used as a reduction to any minimum term imposed by the court.
The prosecution argue that they put a case forward that would merit James’ care element at the highest sentencing category and the culpability element at the second highest.
This is refuted by Mr Elias KC, representing James. He told the court how although at first James had not considered the relationship one that would typically be described as a domestic violence relationship, James at least in the week leading up to Lola’s death had started to recognise the signs.
He described his client as being intimidated by Bevan, and was fearful over what he would do to her should she have called the police.
Judge His Honour Justice Griffiths, reminded counsel that during evidence given in the court, James had been seen being assertive with Bevan and did not seem to be in fear.
Judge His Honour Justice Griffiths said: “Lola was described by her grandmother as a character who loved life
“Her father said she was always smiling and a ray of sunshine and a laugh that could fill a room with pure joy.
“You Kyle Bevan murdered her when she was only 2 years old and you Sinead James allowed her death. You have shattered a family and the life of her sisters.”
His Honor continued: “He started to hurt Lola at midnight and carried on until Lola was unconscious at 6.30am.
“This was a sustained, deliberate and very violent attack. The attack was completely unprovoked.
“For some of the injuries Kyle Bevan used weapons.
“It would of caused emotional and physical pain before her coma.
“I am sure Kyle Bevan did this as an exercise of power, of some superior power on the only person he could, that of an innocent child.
“He has no remorse at all, even now.”
When speaking on the sentence for Sinead James, His Honor Judge Justice Griffiths said: “She prioritised her relationship with Kyle bevan over the safety of her children, this was evident when she went back to bed when Kyle Bevan first attacked Lola at midnight.
“Chronology shows Sinead James was made aware of multiple injuries to her children leaving visible marks.
“She knew he had taken hammer to light switch, he was subject to mood swings, he was known to take recreational drugs that had an affect on him.
She always brought the children back and kept leaving them in his sole care.
“When they were injured she did not take them to doctor of hospital or disclose to police when Kyle Bevan was violent.
“She failed to take any effective steps to protect Lola.
“Even though she had proved she could do so.”
Bevan was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 28 years. However Judge His Honor Justice Griffiths warned he may never be released.
James was sentenced to six years in prison, she will serve half in prison with the remaining sentence on licence.
