Child killer Kyle Bevan 'looked asleep' after stabbing at HMP Wakefield, prison officer tells murder trial

 Jurors at Leeds Crown Court were shown CCTV footage of three inmates who emerged from the victim's cell displaying "something of a satisfied, job-done mood", according to the prosecution.

A child killer, stabbed 25 times in his prison cell, "looked like he was sleeping" when staff went to check on him the next morning, a jury has been told.

Mark Fellows, 45, Lee Newell, 57, and David Taylor, 64, who are on trial at Leeds Crown Court, deny murdering 33-year-old Kyle Bevan at high-security HMP Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

Bevan was serving a life sentence, with a minimum term of 28 years for murdering his stepdaughter, when he was killed on 4 November last year.

Jason Pitter KC, prosecuting, showed the jurors CCTV footage of Bevan entering his cell, followed by the three defendants who, he said, left less than five minutes later.

He added the trio emerged displaying "something of a satisfied, job-done mood".

He was not discovered until the following morning when it was found he had bled to death after a series of stab wounds, some penetrating his jugular vein, aorta and heart.

Mr Pitter told the jury there was "probably more than one weapon".

Bevan, originally from Aberystwyth, was jailed after murdering two-year-old Lola James in Pembrokeshire in 2020.

At Bevan's trial, the court heard she had suffered 101 separate injuries to her body.

On Thursday, prison officer Justin Barrett described finding Bevan's body after intelligence emerged from another prisoner, "that there was something wrong with Bevan".

He told the court: "I opened his [prison door] flap and checked - to me it looked like he was sleeping.

"He was lying on his stomach with his head facing the side… From the distance I couldn't quite see his face but I could just see his head tilting.

"He was lying on his stomach, his leg was off the bed, his head was turned my way, to the left... He looked like he was asleep."

On Thursday, prison officer Justin Barrett described finding Bevan's body after intelligence emerged from another prisoner, "that there was something wrong with Bevan".

He told the court: "I opened his [prison door] flap and checked - to me it looked like he was sleeping.

"He was lying on his stomach with his head facing the side… From the distance I couldn't quite see his face but I could just see his head tilting.

"He was lying on his stomach, his leg was off the bed, his head was turned my way, to the left... He looked like he was asleep."

probation date

 I wanted to take a moment to give everyone an update.

My parole hearing is next month. After everything that's happened over the years, it still feels strange to be saying those words. As always, I'll keep you informed and let you know what happens. Once the 15th has passed, I'll come back and share everything that's been going on behind the scenes.

I won't pretend I'm not nervous. Part of me expects the usual obstacles and challenges from probation because that's been the reality for so long. But no matter what happens, I will keep fighting and pushing forward, just as I always have.

More than anything, I want to say thank you.

To everyone who has read this blog, followed my journey, left comments, sent messages, or simply checked in over the years—thank you from the bottom of my heart. There have been times when your support has helped me keep going when things felt impossible. Knowing that people out there cared enough to listen to my story has meant more than words can ever express.

If I am fortunate enough to be granted my release, this won't be the end of the blog. In many ways, it will be the beginning of a completely new chapter. I plan to continue sharing my journey, and I would love to go live on YouTube and Facebook so I can finally speak to many of you face to face and thank you personally for standing by me all this time.

And if that day comes—if I finally walk out after 35 years—I will make sure it is recorded. I honestly don't know how I will react in that moment. I've imagined it for so long that it hardly feels real. After 35 years, to finally step into freedom would be overwhelming, emotional, and something I could never fully prepare myself for.

Whatever happens next month, I want you all to know how grateful I am. Your support has been a light during some very dark years, and I will never forget that.

Thank you for being part of this journey with me. I'll be back after the 15th with more news.

Until then, take care of yourselves, and thank you for believing in me.