Mums of boys whose deaths led to Ely riot support defendant

Mums of boys whose deaths led to Ely riot support defendant

During the trial at Newport Crown Court, the mothers of two boys whose tragic deaths led to riots in Cardiff came forward to support one of the defendants involved in the violence. Seven men are currently on trial for rioting on 22 May 2023 following the deaths of Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, in an e-bike accident in Ely. Character references provided by Kyrees’ mother, Belinda Sullivan, and Harvey’s mother, Nadine Evans, were presented to the jury regarding Jaydan Baston.

Belinda Sullivan described 21-year-old Jaydan as a “polite” and “hard-working” individual who had been a close friend to her son for a significant period of time. Both mothers praised Jaydan for his dedication and commitment, highlighting his involvement in a football team established in honor of the two deceased teenagers.

In a surprising turn of events, the jurors were informed that they would not be required to reach a verdict in the case of 37-year-old Michaela Gonzales due to her ongoing health issues. Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke explained that the trial could not be postponed further, leading to the discharge of the jury from the case of Ms. Gonzales.

During the trial, Connor O’Sullivan, a 25-year-old with ADHD and dyslexia, confessed to participating in the riot, citing fear and threats as reasons for his involvement. Despite denying any enjoyment of the riot, O’Sullivan recounted feeling pressured and scared, which led to his continued presence at the scene for several hours. The trial is ongoing, with all seven defendants, including Luke Williams and Connor O’Sullivan, denying the charge of riot

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More