This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/aug/18/woman-saw-smoke-from-body-after-acid-poured-court-hears

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Woman saw smoke from her body after acid was poured over her, court hears Woman saw smoke from her body after acid was poured over her, court hears
(34 minutes later)
A beautician has described seeing smoke coming from her body after she was doused in acid while at a bus stop. Adele Bellis, then 22, lost an ear, is partially bald and was left with “life-changing” scarring following the acid attack in her home town of Lowestoft last August.A beautician has described seeing smoke coming from her body after she was doused in acid while at a bus stop. Adele Bellis, then 22, lost an ear, is partially bald and was left with “life-changing” scarring following the acid attack in her home town of Lowestoft last August.
She was already permanently scarred from a knife attack four months earlier. Prosecutors at Ipswich crown courtsaid on Tuesday that both attacks were organised by her former partner, Anthony Riley, 26. She was already permanently scarred from a knife attack four months earlier. Prosecutors at Ipswich crown court said on Tuesday that both attacks were organised by her former partner, Anthony Riley, 26.
In a video interview played in court, she said she was talking on the phone when a man walked past with his face covered and carrying a Lucozade bottle. “He got behind me and this bottle spilled liquid all over me. At first I thought, oh my God he’s messed up my hair. In a video interview played in court, Bellis said she was talking on the phone when a man walked past with his face covered and carrying a Lucozade bottle. “He got behind me and this bottle spilled liquid all over me. At first I thought, oh my God he’s messed up my hair.
“After two or three seconds my skin just burned and I knew it was acid. I remember I was smoking, I was just crying and shouting ‘I’m burning, I’m burning’.”“After two or three seconds my skin just burned and I knew it was acid. I remember I was smoking, I was just crying and shouting ‘I’m burning, I’m burning’.”
She said that the top she was wearing dissolved and holes appeared in her jeans. Bystanders poured water over her and people rushed from their houses with towels to cover her wounds before calling an ambulance. “My hair was falling out. I was just hysterical,” she said.She said that the top she was wearing dissolved and holes appeared in her jeans. Bystanders poured water over her and people rushed from their houses with towels to cover her wounds before calling an ambulance. “My hair was falling out. I was just hysterical,” she said.
Describing the earlier knife attack, Bellis said she had been returning from a trip to the cinema with Riley when he led her down an alleyway where she saw a masked man, allegedly Riley’s co-defendant Leon Thompson. “The man jumped on Anthony and he didn’t really do much,” she said. “I turned around to see what was happening and this guy stabbed me.Describing the earlier knife attack, Bellis said she had been returning from a trip to the cinema with Riley when he led her down an alleyway where she saw a masked man, allegedly Riley’s co-defendant Leon Thompson. “The man jumped on Anthony and he didn’t really do much,” she said. “I turned around to see what was happening and this guy stabbed me.
“Anthony chased after him and kicked him to the floor. He’s a big man who does boxing and the way he’s hit me in the past, he didn’t really do an awful lot. I screamed and was bleeding and he came over to me and let the man get away. It took him a little while but eventually he rang the ambulance.”“Anthony chased after him and kicked him to the floor. He’s a big man who does boxing and the way he’s hit me in the past, he didn’t really do an awful lot. I screamed and was bleeding and he came over to me and let the man get away. It took him a little while but eventually he rang the ambulance.”
She said that Riley suffered a “stupid little slash on his foot” in the scuffle. Prosecutors say Riley pretended to chase Thompson away and had arranged for him to inflict a minor injury to avert suspicion.She said that Riley suffered a “stupid little slash on his foot” in the scuffle. Prosecutors say Riley pretended to chase Thompson away and had arranged for him to inflict a minor injury to avert suspicion.
Andrew Jackson, prosecuting, said Riley, not content with the scarring caused by the knife attack, recruited another man to pour sulphuric acid over her. It is alleged that Riley forced Jason Harrison, who owed him money, to do it. Harrison has already admitted his part in the conspiracy, jurors were told.Andrew Jackson, prosecuting, said Riley, not content with the scarring caused by the knife attack, recruited another man to pour sulphuric acid over her. It is alleged that Riley forced Jason Harrison, who owed him money, to do it. Harrison has already admitted his part in the conspiracy, jurors were told.
Before Harrison carried out the attack, Riley allegedly demonstrated the strength of the acid by dropping a live mouse into the liquid. Jackson added: “After their relationship ended, Mr Riley became consumed with jealousy at the prospect of her becoming involved with another man. He decided to control her by disfiguring her.”Before Harrison carried out the attack, Riley allegedly demonstrated the strength of the acid by dropping a live mouse into the liquid. Jackson added: “After their relationship ended, Mr Riley became consumed with jealousy at the prospect of her becoming involved with another man. He decided to control her by disfiguring her.”
Riley, from Lowestoft, Suffolk, denies false imprisonment, conspiracy to apply a corrosive liquid, and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.Riley, from Lowestoft, Suffolk, denies false imprisonment, conspiracy to apply a corrosive liquid, and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.
Thompson, also from Lowestoft, denies wounding with intent, having a knife in public, conspiracy to apply a corrosive liquid and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.Thompson, also from Lowestoft, denies wounding with intent, having a knife in public, conspiracy to apply a corrosive liquid and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.
The case continues.The case continues.