Woman died from overdose on painkillers after being battered by thug boyfriend

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A woman died following a drug overdose in the weeks after she was viciously beaten by her boyfriend. Kevin Courtney, 36, punched Jessica Lewis in the face and dragged her by the hair.She was given painkillers for her serious facial injuries, which she subsequently overdosed on.

Courtney and Ms Lewis had been together for several years, and he first attacked her at her flat in Bridgend, Wales, on February 18, Wales Online reports.Cardiff Crown Court heard on Tuesday that the couple had been arguing about his dog from a previous relationship when he became enraged "out of nowhere" and repeatedly punched her in the face, in what she called a "windmill action".Ms Lewis, who was left with "severe bruises" on her face, managed to bite Courtney on the nose and escape to a friend's house.

Steven Donoghue, prosecuting, said she returned to her flat two days later and was feeling "sore". The court heard she was watching TV when Courtney appeared outside the kitchen window, having climbed up the back of the property.

Ms Lewis said he forced his way into the flat, though Courtney maintains he persuaded her to let him enter.They argued again and Ms Lewis messaged his mother, saying: "Come and get your son, he's going to do something to me." The mum arrived and shouted up from outside for him to come out, but as Ms Lewis looked down from the window, Courtney grabbed her by the hair and dragged her across the room.Ms Lewis was prescribed painkillers and diazepam in hospital for her injuries, but she returned on February 28, having taken an overdose of the medication and paracetamol.