Woman, 21, charged in 'niqab' acid attack

A 21 year-old woman has been charged with an acid attack which left a Victoria's Secret shop assistant maimed.

Ms Oni has been left with only partial vision in her right eye 

Prosecutors have approved the charge over the assault on Naomi Oni, who suffered horrific burns and damaged sight after sulphuric acid was thrown over her face by someone she said was wearing a niqab, the Muslim garment which features a full facial veil.

Police have charged Mary Konye, of Throckmorton Road, east London, with throwing corrosive fluid with intent to burn.

Damaris Lakin, CPS London senior Crown prosecutor, said: "I have authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge Mary Konye in relation to the throwing of sulphuric acid onto Naomi Oni on December 30, 2012, in Dagenham.

“I concluded that there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and that it is in the public interest to charge Ms Konye with throwing or casting a corrosive fluid with intent to burn, maim, disfigure, disable or do grievous bodily harm."

Miss Oni, 20, previously told of how she became aware of someone behind her as she walked home after getting off a bus in Dagenham, shortly after midnight, after she finished a shift at the lingerie shop in Stratford, east London.

She was sprayed in the face with burning liquid while she was speaking on her mobile phone to her boyfriend.
She said the attacker had been wearing a niqab, the Muslim garment which includes a full facial veil.
Konye will appear before Barkingside magistrates' court on Wednesday.
A 28 year-old man who was arrested at the end of February by officers investigating the attack has been released without charge