Ely riot accused Luke Williams urged others to join in

One man live streamed a riot that followed the death of two teenage boys and “incited” others to join, a court has heard.

Luke Williams, 31, is on trial at Newport Crown Court along with seven others, aged between 21 and 38, who all deny a single charge of riot in the Ely area of Cardiff.

Mr Williams, from Caerau, live streamed the events to 15,000 people jurors heard he said “one down, about time, euthanise him” in reference to a police officer, but his barrister said the footage gave misleading information about his actions.

Disorder broke out after the deaths of Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, who were killed when their e-bike crashed on Snowden Road on 22 May 2023.

Video played to the jury was said to show him using abusive language towards officers and celebrating when a police officer fell.

Prosecutors said Williams repeatedly described police as “bullies” and urged those throwing items to continue.

Hashim Salmman, defending, said different camera angles could make his involvement seem more aggressive than it was.

In court, police were asked if some of Mr Williams’ comments on the live stream, made in response to viewers online, may have contributed to misunderstanding of his role, and an officer agreed there was a margin for error.

Police agreed Mr Williams stayed behind the police line, did not physically attack anyone, throw objects, set fires or damage property.

At one point, Mr Williams called rioters “idiots,” and is said to have retreated down Stanway Road without engaging in violence.

The jury was told that footage captured a police officer falling during the disorder, and prosecutors said Mr Williams laughed and shouted in reaction.

He invited people watching online to join the unrest and his tone suggested he “intended to encourage attendance”, the court was told.

Jurors also watched body-worn camera footage, which prosecutors allege showed Connor O’Sullivan, 26, from Ely, gesturing to people behind him and shouting for them to throw missiles at police.

They allege that after throwing what was described as a “large missile”, he walked away and fist bumped another man.

Jurors were also shown footage from a live Facebook stream in which Mr O’Sullivan is said to be heard shouting “Ely Gang” before walking towards a burning car.

The court was previously told that Mr O’Sullivan felt pressured into attending the disturbance by threats from peers.

Those on trial accused of riot, who all deny the charge, are:

• 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
• Luke Williams, 31, from Caerau

The trial continues.