Jealous student ‘threw acid in Dagenham friend’s face because she was good looking’, court hears

Acid attack victim Naomi Oni after attack (Image: Archant)

Mary Konye, 21, stalked shop assistant Naomi Oni as she made her way home from her work at Victoria’s Secret lingerie store in Westfield Stratford City, Newham, it was alleged.

Naomi Oni after having new eyebrows created (Image: Archant)

Ms Oni, also 21, was hospitalised for a month and left disfigured for life after her alleged attacker doused her with concentrated sulphuric acid close to her home in Lodge Avenue, Dagenham, in the early hours of December 30, 2012.

Opening the trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court, prosecutor Gareth Patterson told jurors how Ms Oni was on the phone to her boyfriend when the attack happened.

“She screamed and felt her face burning — she could smell her skin and hair burning and immediately started running home. Her mother opened the door and found her daughter screaming hysterically.”

He said the pair, who had known each other since school, frequently argued and fell out when Ms Oni called University of Hertfordshire business and finance student Konye ugly.

Mr Patterson said cctv footage of Ms Oni leaving work at around 11.30pm showed a veiled figure following her from Stratford station.

“The evidence makes it clear that the person who disguised themselves by wearing the veil and following Naomi was the defendant, Mary Konye,” said Mr Patterson.

“In the past they had had an up and down relationship. The defendant in particular on one occasion had threatened in anger to throw acid at Naomi.”

Konye, of Throckmorton Road, Canning Town, denied being jealous of her friend’s looks and said she had no idea who had thrown the acid over her.

She denies applying corrosive fluid with intent to disfigure, maim or cause grievous bodily harm.

The trial continues.