The first group of adults charged in connection with the Cardiff riots that erupted in May 2023 have appeared in court, offering a mix of guilty and not guilty pleas. The unrest, which rocked the Ely area, began after the tragic deaths of two teenagers, Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, who were killed in a bike crash on May 22, 2023. Their deaths sparked a violent reaction from the local community, leading to mass disorder, property damage, and the injury of 15 police officers.

A total of 31 individuals have been charged in connection with the riots, including 27 facing charges of rioting and others accused of causing or threatening to cause criminal damage.

In the first wave of court appearances at Cardiff Crown Court, two individuals admitted to participating in the riots. Nineteen-year-old Kyle Telemaque from Ely pleaded guilty not only to rioting but also to charges of supplying cannabis. Jumana Fouad, 18, also from Ely, who was only 16 at the time of the incident, admitted to rioting shortly after her 18th birthday.

However, not all defendants took the same route. Sixteen others, including individuals ranging in age from 18 to 37, pleaded not guilty to charges of rioting. Among them, 21-year-old McKenzie Danks denied rioting but admitted to assaulting two police officers during the disorder.

The court proceedings will continue, with the next hearing scheduled for November 1, but no trial date has yet been set. The events of that night left a deep scar on the Ely community, as dozens of people face justice for their roles in the chaos that followed the untimely deaths of two best friends.

The violence saw crowds of up to 150 people gather, with cars set ablaze and significant damage to property, a night that will not soon be forgotten in Cardiff.