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Acid attack: Accused 'read 82 articles on acid attacks' | Acid attack: Accused 'read 82 articles on acid attacks' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A woman accused of throwing acid over her former partner said it was a coincidence that she looked at articles about acid attacks days before, Bristol Crown Court has heard. | A woman accused of throwing acid over her former partner said it was a coincidence that she looked at articles about acid attacks days before, Bristol Crown Court has heard. |
Berlinah Wallace, 48, denies murder and applying a corrosive fluid to Mark van Dongen, 29, in Bristol in 2015. | Berlinah Wallace, 48, denies murder and applying a corrosive fluid to Mark van Dongen, 29, in Bristol in 2015. |
He was granted euthanasia and died in a Belgian hospital 15 months later. | |
Ms Wallace said she clicked on images of acid attacks "out of curiosity" but had not read the stories. | Ms Wallace said she clicked on images of acid attacks "out of curiosity" but had not read the stories. |
Under cross-examination from prosecutor Adam Vaitilingam QC, Ms Wallace said she bought a bottle of sulphuric acid online, in order to clear smelly drains in her flat. | Under cross-examination from prosecutor Adam Vaitilingam QC, Ms Wallace said she bought a bottle of sulphuric acid online, in order to clear smelly drains in her flat. |
Mr Vaitilingam told the court Ms Wallace had clicked on 82 online articles about acid attacks, days before the alleged attack on 23 September 2015. | Mr Vaitilingam told the court Ms Wallace had clicked on 82 online articles about acid attacks, days before the alleged attack on 23 September 2015. |
She said she did not read the articles, but "just looked at pictures". | She said she did not read the articles, but "just looked at pictures". |
Mr Vaitilingam asked why she was "so fascinated" by stories about acid attacks and people drinking acid. | Mr Vaitilingam asked why she was "so fascinated" by stories about acid attacks and people drinking acid. |
"I just saw pictures, just to look," she replied. | "I just saw pictures, just to look," she replied. |
"What was so fascinating about those pictures?" | "What was so fascinating about those pictures?" |
"Just curiosity," she said. | "Just curiosity," she said. |
"Your account to the jury is it's just a coincidence that within a matter of days you were to throw sulphuric acid into Mark's face?" Mr Vaitilingam asked. | "Your account to the jury is it's just a coincidence that within a matter of days you were to throw sulphuric acid into Mark's face?" Mr Vaitilingam asked. |
"Just coincidence and bad luck," the defendant replied. | "Just coincidence and bad luck," the defendant replied. |
Previously Ms Wallace told the court she believed she was throwing water at her former partner during an argument, and did not realise it was acid in the glass. | Previously Ms Wallace told the court she believed she was throwing water at her former partner during an argument, and did not realise it was acid in the glass. |
She said it was just a "coincidence" that she bought acid on the day her former partner told her to leave him alone. | She said it was just a "coincidence" that she bought acid on the day her former partner told her to leave him alone. |
Mr van Dongen was left paralysed from the neck down and lost his left leg, ear and eye following the alleged attack, and ended his own life in a Belgian euthanasia clinic in January 2017. | Mr van Dongen was left paralysed from the neck down and lost his left leg, ear and eye following the alleged attack, and ended his own life in a Belgian euthanasia clinic in January 2017. |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |