Mums stopped from seeing bodies of sons, riot trial told

The mothers of two teens were stopped by police from seeing their bodies before violence erupted, a trial has been told.

Eight people have gone on trial accused of rioting which caused "mayhem" and "carnage" in Ely, Cardiff, two years ago.

Newport Crown Court heard there was 200 hours of police body-worn footage from the riot sparked by the deaths of two teenagers, Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, who were killed when their e-bike crashed on Snowden Road on 22 May 2023.

A police officer told jurors the footage included the two boys' mothers being told they would not be able to see their bodies.

Fiona Haggerty-James from South Wales Police, the officer who put together much of the material, made the admission during cross-examination by one of the defendant's lawyers.

On trial: (Clockwise from top left) Lee Robinson, 38; McKenzie Danks, 22; Michaela Gonzales, 37; Zayne Farrugia, 25; Luke Williams, 31 Connor O'Sullivan, 26; Jaydan Baston, 21; and Jordan Bratcher, 27, deny the charge of riot

Prosecutors described one of the defendants Lee Robinson from Caerau, Cardiff, as an "aggressive focal point" of the riot.

In police body-worn footage, Mr Robinson can be seen wearing a grey Chicago Bulls vest and repeatedly calling police officers "murderers" as well claiming "you kill dogs, you kill kids".

Litter and burnt cars were left on the street in Ely, Cardiff

In a text exchange found on Mr Robinson's phone from the following day, he appears to tell a friend "we flipped the car and blew them up".

Under cross examination Ms Haggerty-James accepted Robinson appeared to be focused on one of the police dog handlers and was not directing abuse at any other officers.

The deaths of 16-year-old Kyrees Sullivan and 15-year-old Harvey Evans sparked a riot in Ely

Harry Baker, defending Mr Robinson, also played another video from later in the evening where his client spoke "pleasantly" to an officer and asked why it was not in the prosecution's material.

Ms Haggerty-James said the material had been compiled to "capture their offending behaviour".

The court was then played footage relating to 22-year-old McKenzie Danks from Caerau, who denies the charge of riot.

He was first seen on police bodycam at 19:19 in a car, claiming to be concerned about his brother because he had heard about the "little kids".

When asked his brother's name, he answered "Harvey".

More footage showed Mr Danks falling over a bicycle as police started to try to push the crowd back when he then took off his shoes and threw them at police.

The court also heard drone footage showed Mr Danks with a group of people throwing debris.

During cross examination, Mr Danks' barrister Hannah Friedman played another video to the jury posted on a bystander's Facebook page which appeared to show officers in front of Mr Danks drawing their batons and striking at the crowd.

"The baton connects with Mr Danks's arm," said Ms Friedman.

"I can't say whether it connects but it is close to his arm," replied Ms Haggerty-James.

Ms Friedman said it was "only after that happens that there is any physical reaction from Mr Danks", with the court hearing there was no evidence of him showing any other violence against officers.

The jury also saw footage relating to 37-year-old Michaela Gonzales from Ely, who denies the charge of riot.

The court heard she was first seen on police body-worn footage at 19:44 in the crowd and the prosecution said later "concealed herself by crouching down and throws an item at the police line".

The court was shown footage from various angles of something being thrown at the police line and in some, an object can clearly be seen "flying through the air" and the sound of glass smashing.

She is then seen leaving the scene around an hour later in a black car.

On Tuesday, the jury was told that all eight defendants "played a part in the rioting mob".

Lee Robinson, 38, from Caerau, McKenzie Danks, 22, from Caerau, Michaela Gonzales, 37, from Ely, Zayne Farrugia, 25, from Caerau, Jordan Bratcher, 27, from Llanishen, Jaydan Baston, 21, from Caerau, Connor O'Sullivan, 26, from Ely and Luke Williams, 31, from Caerau, deny the charge of riot.

The trial is expected to last six weeks.