Inside ‘smelly’ and cluttered home where tragic Lola James, 2, was ‘murdered by her “monster” stepfather’
THIS is the “smelly” and cluttered home where a tragic toddler was allegedly murdered by her “monster” stepfather.
The two-year-old died in hospital of “catastrophic” head trauma, having suffered 101 external injuries, four days after police were rushed to her Wales home in July 2020.
Lola’s stepfather Kyle Bevan, 31, is on trial for her murder.
He claims Lola had fallen down the stairs after being jumped on by the family’s pet dog.
But the prosecution alleges that Bevan tried to cover the tracks of his “murderous attack” by blaming the animal.
During the trial at Swansea Crown Court, jurors have seen photographs of the inside of the house where she lived.
The shocking snaps show clothing on the kitchen floor, as plastic bags protrude out of a nearby cupboard.
The washing machine appears to be full, while items are scattered on the worktops and a garden chair stands next to the cooker – where opened cereal boxes are placed on top of the hobs.
In Lola’s bedroom, toys are clothing are on the floor – as is what appears to be an empty soft drink can.
The prosecution said items recovered from Lola’s room included a duvet cover – which the Crown described as being in “poor condition”, and “grubby” with brown and yellow-crusty staining, and a urine stain on the cover.
The tot’s mother Sinead James, 30, has also been charged with causing or allowing the death of a child.
During her evidence in the witness box, James said she heard a “bang and a scream” coming from Lola’s room on the night of July 16.
James told jurors : “(I said) ‘What the f*** was that’ and Lola was crying. Kyle goes ‘She’s alright, she banged her head’ and he’s cuddling her. I said ‘Is she alright?’ and he said she’d banged her head but she calmed down and went to sleep.”
A photo of a table inside the property was also shown to the jury. On it lay empty food wrappers, cigarette butts, cleaning products as well as an open can of CocaCola.
‘MESSY AND SMELLY’
During the trial, witness Mark John – a former partner of James’ close friend Casey Morgan – said the house sometimes messy and “smelly” with nappies and “clothes all over the place”.
He said it was like that before she met Bevan and while they were in a relationship.
Below is the stairs in the property. As part of his defence, Bevan said that Lola had fallen down the stairs after being knocked over by the family’s pet dog.
James said she never saw the dog injuring Lola, and was only told about this by Bevan. Bevan also told his mother that Lola had fallen down the stairs “from top to bottom”.
Jurors have been told during the trial that Bevan sent James a text messaging saying: “They think we hurt Lola, she fell down the f****** stairs like and the marks are from when the dog jumped up on her, it happens all the time.”
He later messaged: “I would never hurt her like that. I really hope you know I done everything I could, Sinead, I really do.”
The prosecution also said that the house was untidy and messy, while the bathroom was cleaned – suggesting that Lola had been washed or cleaned after being allegedly attacked.
Jurors started their deliberations on Friday just before 1pm, after Judge Mr Justice Griffiths finished his summing up of the case.
He also told jurors it was for the prosecution to prove guilt in the case, and that the defendants do not have to prove their innocence.
He told them the prosecution will have proved the case if, having considered all the relevant evidence, they are sure of the defendant’s guilt. He says nothing less than being sure will do, and if they are not sure they must acquit.
The trial continues.