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Eystna Blunnie murder case: Tony McLernon 'beat' pregnant ex-girlfriend Eystna Blunnie murder case: Tony McLernon 'beat' pregnant ex-girlfriend
(about 3 hours later)
A heavily-pregnant woman was beaten to death by her ex-boyfriend in a "brutal and sustained" attack, a court heard. A heavily-pregnant woman was lured to her death in a "brutal" attack by her ex-boyfriend, a court has heard.
Eystna Blunnie, 20, was found with fatal head injuries near her home in Howard Way, Harlow, Essex, on 27 June.Eystna Blunnie, 20, was found with fatal head injuries near her home in Howard Way, Harlow, Essex, on 27 June.
Chelmsford Crown Court heard she had been in an abusive relationship with 24-year-old Tony McLernon.Chelmsford Crown Court heard she had been in an abusive relationship with 24-year-old Tony McLernon.
Mr McLernon, of North Grove, Harlow, denies murdering Ms Blunnie and a charge of child destruction by wilfully causing the death of an unborn child.Mr McLernon, of North Grove, Harlow, denies murdering Ms Blunnie and a charge of child destruction by wilfully causing the death of an unborn child.
Mr McLernon arranged to meet Ms Blunnie in the street in the early hours of June 27 last year, prosecutor Andrew Jackson told the court. Ms Blunnie agreed to meet Mr McLernon on a street in Harlow after receiving a text saying he had got a "surprise" for her, the court heard.
The couple, who started dating in 2010, broke up in April last year. She had initially been reluctant to meet him but he convinced her with "self-pitying messages designed to gain sympathy from Eystna...", prosecutor Andrew Jackson told the court.
Mr McLernon knew she was pregnant with his child. "I'm scared"
'Outline of knuckles' Fuelled by alcohol and cannabis, unemployed Mr McLernon forced Ms Blunnie to the ground in the early hours and repeatedly kicked and stamped on her, the court heard.
Opening the trial, Mr Jackson said Mr McLernon "repeatedly kicked and stamped on her in an act of brutal and sustained violence. Mr Jackson told jurors: "It was an act of brutal, sustained and wholly unprovoked violence."
"He knew he was not only killing her but their unborn child as well." Mr McLernon "knew he was not only killing her but their unborn child as well," he added.
Nearby residents reported hearing screaming and punching noises on the morning of Ms Blunnie's death. The court was told residents living near the scene of the alleged attack heard her "horrific" screams and the impact of the blows.
Mr Jackson told jurors the couple's relationship was "marked by controlling, bullying and violent behaviour". Ms Blunnie, who was due to give birth within days, was later found with severe head and facial injuries and died in hospital.
He said: "Within a month of the relationship beginning, family members saw Eystna with bruising to her arm and within that bruising they saw the outline of knuckles." Mr McLernon later spoke to his father on the phone and told him "I think I've killed Eystna", the court heard.
The couple's relationship ended having reached "a considerable and violent crisis", said Mr Jackson. "Horrific" screams
The trial continues. The couple, who met in 2010, had been together since April 2011 and got engaged three months later.
In October, Ms Blunnie told Mr McLernon she was pregnant with his child. They broke up the following year after Ms Blunnie, a catering student and barmaid, made complaints to police that he had been abusing her.
Mr Jackson told jurors the couple's relationship was "marked by controlling, bullying and violent behaviour" and ended having reached "a considerable and violent crisis".
The court heard that Mr McLernon had a history of abusive relationships.
The trial, expected to last up to four weeks, continues.