'Teen inhaled laughing gas and drove over woman causing catastrophic injuries'

A teenager has denied murdering a woman who died three weeks after he "deliberately drove" at two people following an argument outside a club.

Shelley Davies, 38, was seriously injured in the incident in the early hours of 27 September 2025 in Caerau, Cardiff, and died in hospital. Her partner, David Bratcher, 40, was badly injured.

Kian Bateman "accelerated" his car at the pair after seeing them in an "altercation" with his brother Kai Bateman outside the 4th Glamorgan Home Guard Club, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

Bateman, from Caerau, Cardiff, was 18 at the time and admitted causing death and injury by dangerous driving. But he denies the murder of Davies and the attempted murder of Bratcher.

In the hours before the incident, the defendant was seen on CCTV inhaling nitrous oxide from a balloon, which, the prosecution says, can lead to increased aggression.

The jury was told it would see footage of Davies appearing to "hit out" at a balloon in Kai Bateman's hand and throw a drink at him, before he appeared to punch her in the face, knocking her down in the process.

The court heard Bratcher then became involved, which the prosecution said could be seen by Kian Bateman who was in the driver's seat of his car.

Jones said that as Bratcher moved towards his brother, Kian Bateman "deliberately accelerated forward" into Davies, causing "catastrophic injuries" which led directly to her death three weeks later.

Michael Jones KC, prosecuting, said the car could be seen to "lift up" as it drove over Davies, while Bratcher went "over the bonnet". The defendant drove away from the scene immediately after the incident, the court heard.

Jones said the defendant would have been able to "see the body of Shelley Davies lying in the road when he accelerated forward".

The court heard Davies and Bratcher had spent the evening attending a reggae and dancehall event at the social club, while the defendant could be seen throughout the evening on CCTV in and around the club in a Seat Ibiza car.

Jones said there was "ample evidence" Bateman had been "deliberately inhaling nitrous oxide" that evening, which could increase aggression and have similar effects to those caused by alcohol.

When Bateman was arrested, he told police his car had been surrounded by people and that he was "frightened" about being beaten up. He said he drove the car to get away and that he had "no knowledge" of hitting anyone.

Jones said CCTV would show the car was not surrounded by people.

He said the only people in front of the car "were those who he hit" and that those people had been "involved in an altercation with his brother".

The judge told the jury Kian Bateman accepted he caused the death of Davies but he said he did not "deliberately drive at her or intend to cause serious injury".

She said that the case would be about "whether the prosecution can prove intention".

The trial continues.