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12 years for veiled attacker who launched acid attack on friend (24 March 2014)

Date: 24/03/2014
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, 12 years for veiled attacker who launched acid attack on friend

A 22-year-old woman who disguised herself in a veil to throw acid in the face of her friend has been sentenced to 12 years in jail.

At Snaresbrook Crown Court in East London, 22-year-old Mary Konye wept as the sentence was handed down.

On 30 December 2012, she had followed her friend Naomi Oni home from work and attacked her at her home in Dagenham, leaving her scarred for life.

No clear motive could be established by the court, except that the pair had fallen out in April 2011 over Ms Oni alleging that Konye had sent text messages to her boyfriend and had also allegedly called her an “ugly monster”.

Following the attack, Konye had continued to pretend to be friends with Oni, texting her while she was in hospital after she had inflicted terrible injuries to her, which included severe burns to her face, chest, arms, stomach and legs.

Ms Oni – who worked as a shop assistant in the luxury lingerie store Victoria’s Secret – also lost an eyelid, her eyelashes and hair and was nearly blinded in one eye as a result of the acid attack. In a court statement Ms Oni said that following the incident she had felt violated and felt like killing herself. Previously she had been “a confident young woman” who enjoyed her job.

“All this changed that day I was struck with acid and my life was turned upside down,” the statement said.

“I am going to have these scars as a reminder forever.”

She added that since the attack, every day was now “a battle to get by”.

At Snaresbrook Crown Court Judge David Radford said that Konye had shown no remorse for the attack, which he called “ a deliberate and wicked act”.

“This careful, premeditated criminality was planned against a person who reasonably believed you were a true friend,” he told Konye.

“Her friendship had been so wilfully betrayed by you.”

Judge Radford added that as a result of the acid attack, Ms Oni’s life had been ruined.

Ms Oni’s statement read in court said:

“…My injuries are due to the carefully planned acts of an evil and wicked person.”

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors

Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors can advise on how to make a claim for injuries sustained as a result of criminal acts by another person.

Claims for personal injury compensation as a result of being the victim of a criminal act can be made under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.

It is also possible to make a no win no fee claim for compensation in the civil courts for injuries – including compensation for criminal injuries sustained in assaults, road traffic accidents (DUI, dangerous driving) and sexual assault.

For expert legal advice on how to make a no win no fee claim for Criminal Injuries Compensation, contact Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 020 7923 4020.

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