Cardiff Hit-And Run: Tribute For Mother

Hundreds of people have gathered for a poignant church and prayer service after a 30-minute hit-and-run rampage left a mother dead and several people injured.

Karina Menzies died when a van careered into pedestrians in Ely, Cardiff, on Friday afternoon.

Reverend Jan Gould led a special service at Church of the Resurrection in Ely.

The vicar, who earlier broke down during a morning service at the church, told a packed congregation: "This must surely be perhaps the deepest grief we have shared as a community.

"This grief, of Karina's tragic death ... has broken the heart of our community, and the healing work that is now to be done will take a very, very long time.

"We will never be the same again as a community - for how can we not be changed after such a tragedy."

Earlier Adam Lewis, who saw his young family struck by the van, told Sky News how he saw his two-year-old daughter Amelia-May catapulted from her pram.

She escaped with only cuts and bruises, while Mr Lewis' partner Annie Jones, 23, was left with a broken leg and puncture wound to her hip among other injuries.

He said: "I caught the van in my peripheral vision but it was too late, he just sped up and smashed straight into us.

"I got pushed to the side with the wing-mirror and unfortunately my partner and the baby took the brunt of it.

"(Amelia-May) ended up face down on the pavement, and my partner was there holding onto her leg, and it was broken."

CCTV footage taken by a shopkeeper showed the Iveco transit-style van veering across the road and targeting the couple and their child just minutes before the driver went on to kill mother-of-three Ms Menzies, 32.

She was with her children at the time, and reportedly threw them out of the way as the van approached.

Some 200 people visited the murder scene earlier to hold a minute's silence for her.

Murder squad detectives continue to question a 31-year-old man, with several victims still being treated in hospital.

Two of the injured adults were in a critical condition and five children were also receiving treatment after the mayhem.

In her service this evening, Ms Gould pleaded with her congregation, many of whom were weeping during the hymns and readings, not to resort to "revenge".

Around 600 people, including family and friends of the victims, heard her say: "The only way that we can move forward into the future with hope, is by responding to this suffering the same way Jesus did - with love. Not malice, not hatred, not revenge. Not taking the law into our own hands - that's what our justice system is for."

Detective Superintendent Paul Hurley said the suspect carried a weapon and left his Iveco van to physically assault people. Police want to identify and recover the weapon, which was believed to be a crook lock.

A key part of the inquiry was focused on establishing who owns the white van.

Witnesses were urged to get in touch and asked for information about a mystery black Renault Clio, on a 05 registration plate, seen driving on the wrong side of the road of Western Avenue, not far from Cowbridge Road West.

Kevin Brennan, Labour MP for Cardiff West, said the community wanted justice for Ms Menzies, her family and all those affected by Friday's tragedy.