Page last updated at 16:17 GMT, Tuesday, 28 July 2009 17:17 UK

Model's killer had violent past

Ricardo Morrison
Ricardo Morrison had been abusing his girlfriend for months

Ricardo Morrison, facing life in jail for murdering his girlfriend, had a history of violence against women.

In an assault with similarities to his treatment of Amy Leigh Barnes, the 22-year-old repeatedly attacked an ex-girlfriend who was too scared to give evidence against him.

He twice bit her on the face and after one assault sent her a text which said: "I hope you die of cancer, just like your dad."

Less than a month before he stabbed Miss Barnes, 19, to death with a six-inch kitchen knife, he attacked five women in a London nightclub.

Described in Manchester Crown Court as a "phoney and a bully", Morrison has four previous convictions for assault.

Amy Leigh Barnes

He was also previously convicted of harassing a 23-year-old ex-girlfriend from Birmingham.

But he was never sentenced to custody and broke a restraining order.

The jury at Manchester Crown Court was not told of his violent past - or that he faced five charges of grievous bodily harm for the nightclub attack.

Mr Justice MacDuff ruled the details would prejudice a fair trial.

However, Morrison faced overwhelming evidence of his guilt and was convicted by the jury on Tuesday.

Morrison initially charmed Amy's family after meeting the 19-year-old through Facebook.

Although Amy's father Andrew Barnes described him as "quiet and respectful", his true nature was revealed a few months into the relationship when he rang Amy's mother while she was on holiday.

He screamed down the phone at Karyn Killiner, demanding her to tell Amy to call him.

'Wife beater'

It emerged he had assaulted her during a night out in Bolton, but Amy later reassured her family she was safe.

However, four months later Amy was dead.

On the morning of 8 November, Morrison attacked Miss Barnes, punching her, spraying an aerosol in her face and slamming a door on her arm.

He locked her in the house to go into Bolton, continuing the row by text message.

She called him a "wife beater" and told him the relationship was over. His response was to call her an "evil bitch".

When he returned to the house, he picked up a kitchen knife and slashed her across the face before stabbing her across her body.

Morrison then calmly left the house, bought a sandwich and boarded a coach back to his native Birmingham.

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