The thirteenth day of the drial of seven defendants accused of taking part in the Ely riots is due to take place today. The court previously heard statements from the mothers of the two boys who died in an e-bike crash in Ely before the riots began.
The riots in the Cardiff suburb broke out on May 22, 2023, following the deaths of Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, who were killed in a crash while riding an electric bike in Snowden Road.
Lee Robinson, 38, of Heol Deva, Caerau, Luke Williams, 31, of Deere Place, Ely, Jaydan Baston, 21, of Heol Poyston, Caerau, McKenzie Danks, 22, of Heol Trelai, Caerau, Jordan Bratcher, 27, of Glyndwr Road, Ely, Zayne Farrugia, 25, of Heol Ebwy, Caerau, and Connor O'Sullivan, 26, of Caerau Court Road, Caerau, have pleaded not guilty to rioting.
On Tuesday, the trial at Newport Crown Court heard statements from Nadine Evans, the mother of Harvey Evans, 15, and Bellinda Sullivan, mother of Kyrees Sullivan, 16, who both spoke out in support of Jaydan Baston, who threw a piece of plasterboard at police.
They described him as a "polite, hardworking and reliable young man" and said he had great respect and manners and was always respectful.
Baston accepts that he threw an object - a piece of plasterboard - “towards the police” but says it not hit anyone and he didn't intend it to hit anyone. He denies rioting.
He said: “I’m not a bad person so as soon as I did it I knew I shouldn’t have done it. I wasn’t up there to cause trouble, I wasn’t up there to throw things.”
He added under cross-examination that was “emotionally upset at that time”.
Also giving evidence was Connor O'Sullivan, who told the court he has learning difficulties, ADHD and cannot read because of dyslexia.
He told the court he
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