Eyewitness Accounts in the Ely Riots Trial 🐕🦺
This week in Newport Crown Court, gripping testimony was given by PC Paul Ellery, a police dog handler, who recounted the chaos of the Ely riots. He described the daunting atmosphere, acknowledging the intense threat felt amid a crowd that grew increasingly hostile. Riddled with emotions, he shared how people hurled bricks and bottles, while others even launched a petrol bomb, leaving one officer engulfed in flames.
The unrest ignited in Cardiff’s Ely suburb after the tragic deaths of two teenagers, Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, following a crash on May 22, 2023. Accused Lee Robinson, Luke Williams, Jaydan Baston, Michaela Gonzales, McKenzie Danks, Jordan Bratcher, Zayne Farrugia, and Connor O’Sullivan all pleaded not guilty to rioting charges.
PC Ellery detailed how his dog Koba was stationed behind a police cordon, attempting to manage the crowd’s fury. The hostility reached peak levels when a bearded man challenged him to a fight, calling him a coward and a murderer, using the cordon as a shield.
In court, prosecutor Matthew Cobbe pressed PC Ellery on whether the police were sensitive and engaging—Ellery confirmed they were. Despite these efforts, the atmosphere simmered with chaos as concrete and glass bottles rained down on officers.
Sergeant Gareth Phillips also shared his observations, explaining how a separate crowd hurled offensive slurs and attempted to breach police lines. Even though the police faced venomous insults, Phillips maintained that their response was measured and proportional.
As the trial unfolds, these eyewitness accounts shine a light on the night of pandemonium in Ely, a haunting memory of a community searching for answers and justice. Stay tuned as more details emerge in this ongoing case.