Cardiff hit-and-run: Karina Menzies's daughters allowed home from hospital

THE children of mum Karina Menzies, who was killed in a collision with a white van, have been reunited after two were released from hospital and their older sister came home from a Disneyland holiday.

Ellie, eight, and Tiana, 23 months, survived the same incident outside Ely Fire Station which killed their 31-year-old mum.

Their older sister Sophie, 10, was on holiday in Florida with the charity Dreamflight which kept the heartbreak from the schoolgirl until she arrived home.

A judge yesterday lifted an order banning the names of the seven young victims of last Friday's incidents in Cardiff.

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It came as Matthew Tvrdon appeared in Newport Crown Court accused of deliberately driving into parents and young children during a 30-minute period in locations spread over three miles in the Ely and Leckwith areas of Cardiff last Friday.

The 31-year-old, of no fixed address, is charged with murder, 13 counts of attempted murder, four counts of actual bodily harm and one of dangerous driving.

On Monday, Tvrdon faced magistrates in Cardiff, who remanded him in custody until his appearance at Newport Crown Court yesterday via video-link.

He appeared in the court on a large plasma TV screen, opposite the press bench where a dozen or so journalists sat.

Wearing a black jumper and flanked by two guards, Tvrdon spoke only twice during yesterday's 15-minute preliminary hearing.

He was remanded in custody until January 28.

Investigating officer Ceri Hughes gave Newport Crown Court a progress report on the seven children, who are now well enough to be interviewed by police.

Det Chief Inspector Hughes said: "Mrs Menzies's two daughters who were with her at the time of the incident have been recovering in hospital.

"They are likely to return home later today and will go into the custody of Mrs Menzies's sister Samantha.

"The eldest daughter was out of the country when this happened — she was on holiday in Florida. All attempts have been made to keep this tragedy from her and she is currently flying back to the UK.

"When she arrives at Heathrow, plans are in place to take her back home to Ely, Cardiff, where the family will break the news to her."

The court heard that one of the child victims remained in hospital in a serious condition but six others had been released, including Ellie and Tiana.

Judge John Griffith Williams remanded Tvrdon in custody, saying: "The bereaved deserve early closure. You will appear before a High Court judge in the New Year."