A man accused of murdering his partner’s daughter once “smashed up” their home with a hammer, a court has heard.

Kyle Bevan, 31, from Aberystwyth is charged with murdering two-year-old Lola James, who died on 21 July 2020.

His partner Sinead James is accused of causing or allowing the death of her daughter.

The 30-year-old, from Neyland, Pembrokeshire, was wearing all black as she gave evidence at Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday.

James told jurors of one occasion when Bevan began “smashing up” her home after taking Xanax.

She said: “He got a hammer and hit my light switches in my kitchen. He smashed my house up.

“He was in my face so I pushed him away from me. He was having a go at me.”

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James told the court Bevan felt “ashamed” the following day, and said he would “not to take drugs in the house”.

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James said she met Bevan on Facebook before he moved into her home in Haverfordwest around the time of the first lockdown in March 2020.

She added while she has been “dead against” drugs, she started taking amphetamines while with Bevan, but noted he would not take drugs in the same room as her children.

‘Lovely little girl’

When cross-examined, James said Bevan had never acted violently towards her or her children, other than one occasion where he bruised her arm while attempting to take her phone during an argument.

She added that she had a “totally different” relationship with Bevan compared with the allegedly abusive relationship she had with her previous partner.

James said that Bevan was “really good” with her children, telling the court that “He would cook them dinner and do things for them”.

Describing Lola as a “lovely little girl”, James cried.

“She was full of beans – so cute and lively. I could not ask for a better daughter,” she added.

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Lola died of “catastrophic” head trauma, having suffered 101 external injuries and significant damage to her eyes.

Bevan has denied murdering Lola and claims her injuries were caused by the family dog pushing her down the stairs.

The trial continues.

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