Police officer covered in flames during Ely riot, trial hears

A police officer was “covered in flames” after a petrol bomb was thrown at her during a riot, 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 the violence was 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.

Prosecuting barrister Matthew Cobbe said bodycam footage showed “police were being blamed for the crash” and “hostility increased rapidly”.

“Rumours began to spread about the cause of the crash and that police were pursuing the boys before they crashed,” he said.

The court heard “bottles, bricks, plasterboard and more” were hurled at police with fires set, fireworks thrown and “cars trashed”.

A female officer had a petrol bomb thrown at her, “covering her in flames”, the court heard.

“It was carnage for several hours,” added Mr Cobbe.

The court heard several police officers were injured in the violence and some of those officers were still feeling the impact of the psychological harm the riot caused.

Body-worn camera footage from police at the scene was played to the jury showing intense scenes throughout the evening of 22 May.

As the evening went on footage showed moments when police held Taser guns, warning the crowd to stand back and then pulling out their batons.

By 21:30, footage from behind police riots shields showed missiles being thrown. Shortly after a large object which was on fire was moved by rioters and thrown towards police.

More footage from about 22:30 showed a petrol bomb being thrown at the police line with the flames engulfing a police shield and a crowd of rioters loudly cheering.

Later, doors were thrown at officers as well as multiple fireworks. A car was set on fire with rioters jumping on its windscreen and another car rolled on to its roof.

The court heard the violence went on until the early hours of 23 May, with footage afterwards showing debris strewn all over the area.

Mr Cobbe told the jury some people had already admitted taking part in the riot, adding that many saw it as an “irresistible opportunity to sneer and jeer and throw bottles and bricks,” with many “enjoying themselves as they did so”.

He said police held their lines and “did their best to manage the space that the riot occupied”.

The jury were told the guilty pleas meant they did not have to decide whether a riot had taken place but they had to decide “whether these defendants were involved”.

Mr Cobbe added it was also clear that the “whole community did not support or condone this extraordinary violence”, adding there were “occasional acts of kindness from residents who were plainly bewildered and frightened about what is going on around”.

Lee Robinson, 38, from Caerau, McKenzie Danks, 22, from Caerau, Michaela Gonzalez, 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 up to six weeks.