Bike concerned in deadly street collision was birthday current to younger sufferer
F
amily members of two boys killed in Cardiff whereas using an electrical bike have mentioned it was an early birthday current to the youthful of the victims – an event he won’t ever get to have fun.
Following a group vigil for Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, in Ely on Friday night time, the youthful boy’s aunt and grandmother mentioned subsequent month ought to have seen his sixteenth birthday.
Balloons, fireworks and flares had been launched to recollect the youngsters, whose deaths sparked rioting amid claims police had been pursuing them shortly earlier than they died.
CCTV footage of a marked South Wales Police van following the youngsters as they rode a Sur-Ron electrical bike shortly unfold on social media after the incident, resulting in violent clashes and dysfunction in Ely.
Speaking for the primary time because the deadly crash on Monday night, Harvey’s aunt Hayley Murphy and grandmother Dawn Rees informed the BBC the boy’s mom had stood on the police barrier for greater than two hours begging to know if her son and his good friend had been nonetheless alive.
Ms Murphy mentioned: “We were stood at the barrier and we were begging them, begging them, to tell us if they were alive or dead, and they wouldn’t tell us nothing – and then someone ran into the crowd and said ‘I’ve got a video of the police chasing them’, and that is what started it.
“That’s what got everyone angry, so I understand because we wasn’t getting no answers.”
The rioting noticed 9 individuals arrested and left 15 cops injured.
The claims of a pursuit had been denied by Alun Michael, the Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales, however the power has since confirmed a van was following Kyrees and Harvey.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation into the circumstances.
Remembering Harvey, the 2 ladies mentioned he had cherished e-bikes and scooters and “did everything” together with his pal Kyrees.
“They loved each other like brothers,” Ms Rees mentioned.
Ms Murphy additionally voiced her lack of religion and belief within the police – sentiments which had been echoed by different relations on the 1,500-strong vigil earlier that night time.
John O’Driscoll, Harvey’s nice uncle, mentioned Monday’s night time riot “was wrong” however “was out of frustration”.
“It was because a lot of the boys get abused by the police around here and so that’s why things kicked off,” he mentioned.
“They were just young boys. Everyone rides bikes and scooters around here. Yes, we find them annoying but that’s just what they do.
“But as soon as those coppers saw they had no helmets they should’ve stopped.”
Speaking on the vigil, one other of Harvey’s uncles mentioned: “We’re all tarred with the same brush here, especially given what happened on Monday.
“But this is the true Ely. Look how many people have turned out to pay their respects.
“The only difference between Monday and today is that the police aren’t here.”
It was understood the police had been requested to not attend.
Many of these gathered held blue balloons and wore white T-shirts adorned with footage of Kyrees and Harvey, whereas others stood silently in tears.
A second of silence was held earlier than the group broke out in applause.
Since Monday, a whole bunch of floral tributes and messages have been left on the scene of the accident in Snowden Road.
Earlier, the IOPC appealed for witnesses who could have seen the moments earlier than the crash.
It mentioned the investigation was inspecting the “nature of the police interaction” with Kyrees and Harvey and the “appropriateness” of the officers’ selections and actions.
The watchdog can also be contemplating whether or not the cops’ actions within the van constituted a pursuit, and whether or not the interplay between the officers and the boys was “reported appropriately by the officers prior to and following the collision”.
IOPC director David Ford: “Our thoughts and sympathies remain with the family and friends of Kyrees and Harvey, as well as all those affected by the loss of two young lives in such a close-knit community as Ely.
“Our investigators have been conducting inquiries and securing evidence in the immediate vicinity of where the events took place, speaking to local residents, distributing leaflets and gathering as much relevant information as possible.
“I am truly grateful for the co-operation and assistance we have received from people within the local community.
“We are working hard to establish the exact circumstances of what took place in the period leading up to the collision. I would like to reassure everyone in the community that our work will be thorough, impartial, and independent of the police.”
Politicians and group leaders met to debate the aftermath of Monday’s tragedy.
First Minister Mark Drakeford mentioned: “This week, two families are grieving for their sons and the people of Ely have experienced a collective trauma.
“My thoughts are with the families and friends of Harvey and Kyrees.
“Representatives of the local community and public agencies, including Action in Caerau and Ely, the Welsh Government and Cardiff Council today met in Ely.
“We have agreed to jointly sponsor a grassroots-led initiative to create a community plan for Ely, to respond to the long-term needs of residents. It will be focused on actions and outcomes for people in Ely.”