Baby Lola Fatally Beaten by Partner Who Searched ‘How to Rouse Unconscious Child’
Kyle Bevan, 31, savagely attacked baby Lola James, leaving her limp and unresponsive in the early hours of 17 July 2020. Instead of calling for help immediately, Bevan searched online for advice on reviving an unconscious child. He even took photos and videos of the injured toddler and sent them to his mother—all while Lola’s mother, Sinead James, slept.
Hour-Long Delay Before Ambulance Called
It took nearly an hour before Bevan finally asked his mother to call an ambulance. Paramedics found Lola in a filthy, cluttered home on Princess Royal Way in Haverfordwest. She was rushed to Withybush Hospital, then transferred to University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, where she died on 21 July from catastrophic head injuries.
Brutal Murder Trial Ends in Conviction
After a three-week trial at Swansea Crown Court, Bevan was convicted of Lola’s murder. Her mother, 30-year-old Sinead James, was also convicted of causing or allowing the child’s death. The High Court heard evidence that Lola had no serious injuries on the evening of 16 July but by early morning was the victim of a “brutal, frenzied and violent attack.”
Prosecutor Caroline Rees KC disclosed Lola had 101 external injuries ranging from bruises to grazes and suffered severe damage to both retinas and fatal brain injuries. Medical experts agreed the injuries couldn’t be explained by a fall down carpeted stairs, calling the abuse “catastrophic” and “extensive.”
Dark Family History and Shocking Police Interview
James and Bevan met online in February 2020 and moved in together during the Covid lockdown. Bevan took on childcare, but just four months later, little Lola was dead.
In a police interview, James admitted fearing Bevan’s anger, especially when under the influence of drink or Xanax. She revealed she trusted Bevan’s claim that his mother—a nurse—approved ignoring medical care for Lola’s injuries, including a black eye weeks before the death.
James confessed, “I’m stupid,” when asked why she stayed after Bevan pushed a child in a pram into the road, saying he promised it wouldn’t happen again—just days before the fatal assault.
Sentencing to Follow
The jury delivered their verdicts on 31 March. Kyle Bevan and Sinead James face sentencing on Tuesday, 25 April.
