Ex boyfriend of acid victim Naomi Oni: 'She spoke about Katie Piper once but wasn't obsessed with her'

 
9 January 2014
WEST END FINAL

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The former boyfriend of a Victoria’s Secret shop assistant today said they had discussed the Katie Piper case before his girlfriend fell victim to an acid attack.

Naomi Oni, 21, was disfigured after acid was thrown in her face as she was making her way home from the lingerie store at Westfield Stratford where she worked.

The retail assistant’s friend, university student Mary Konye, 21, is accused of disguising herself in a niqab and carrying out the attack on 30 December 2012.

The defence claim Ms Oni threw acid over herself and enlisted Konye to follow her in an Islamic veil so it would appear to be a “random attack” because she was seeking fame and fortune like Ms Piper.

Miss Oni’s former boyfriend Ato Owede today told Snaresbrook Crown Court: “She told me about Katie Piper - I knew about that but that was it - we spoke about it once.”

Mr Owede, a Sussex University law student, denied claims that Miss Oni was “obsessed” with the Piper story.

He also said Miss Oni told him Konye had previously threatened to attack her with acid after a row between them and he had advised her to end her friendship with Konye.

Mr Owede added:”I am 100% sure (Konye threatened her) because I was very upset and said: ‘Why are you still friends with somebody like that.’”

A text read out by Sally O’Neill QC, defending, from Mr Owede to Miss Oni said: “I told you this before, why did you stay friends if she threatened you.”

Ms O’Neill then asked how the conversation about the acid-attack threat came up and Mr Owede answered: “It was just normal conversation and it just popped up one time.”

The court also heard how Mr Owede had suggested wiping Miss Oni’s laptop before the police examined it.

Ms O’Neill, reading messages sent between the couple to the court, said: “You might have to tell your mum to wipe your laptop.”

The court has heard that in the months before the incident Miss Oni had carried out internet searches for before and after pictures of Miss Piper, a model who was left permanently disfigured after in an acid attack in 2008 organised by her ex-boyfriend.

Miss Oni said she had been “moved” by Miss Piper’s story and had read up on it after seeing a TV documentary.

The court earlier heard that Konye told her alleged victim “don’t worry you won’t look like that forever” after scarring her for life.

The pair were said to have exchanged numerous text messages in the days after the attack on Miss Oni who was unaware her friend was allegedly responsible.

Konye has admitted being the figure in a Muslim veil seen on CCTV following Miss Oni from work but denies the attack.

Jurors were told yesterday that Konye, had known Miss Oni since they were around 11 years-old, but the pair had a “rocky relationship”.

They fell out over text messages Konye sent to Miss Oni’s then boyfriend but patched things up.

Konye, of Canning Town, east London denies throwing or casting a corrosive fluid with intent to burn, maim, disfigure, disable or do grievous bodily harm.

The trial continues.

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