Mum describes model Amy's killer as a 'monster'
The mother of Amy Leigh Barnes branded her killer Ricardo Morrison a "monster" as he was jailed for life.
Karyn Killiner, 41, an art teacher, said Morrison, 22, of Birmingham, wormed his way into the family's affections after meeting her daughter - and subjecting her to months of abuse.
"I want the world to know what he is like," she said. "He was a conman and he integrated himself in our family. He was charming and said how much he loves you.
"But the other side of him is controlling and he had complete power over Amy and all her actions. He is an absolute monster and no language can describe him."
Mrs Killiner described Miss Barnes, 19, an only child, as a "little treasure" and a wonderful daughter.
From an early age the part-time model and actress loved singing and performing and grew up to make her parents proud.
"We were proud of the beautiful person that she was inside and out," her mother said. "She was vibrant and constantly making us laugh. She used to work so hard, going for castings and auditions.
"She would come home after working at a pharmaceutical company and be on the computer applying for roles and castings."
Morrison met Miss Barnes through the Facebook website in February last year and they soon began dating.
Miss Barnes, who had dated a number of professional footballers, said she liked Morrison because he was a "normal boy" and he soon moved up to Bolton to live with her at her mother and stepfather's house.
But Morrison's true character soon showed itself.
"At first he was very charming and kind and he would write us letters to say thank you for letting him stay," Mrs Killiner said. "He said we were like a mother and father to him and that we gave him a home when he needed one.
"We could see that there were a few arguments but nothing that worried us. We thought it was normal as they were a young couple learning to get along together.
"We went away in July and at that time we felt confident that we could leave them both at home to look after each other and the dogs. While we were on holiday was the first time when I knew something was wrong.
"At 5am we were in Italy and got a phone call and he was screaming down the phone at me and said to get Amy to call him. I tried to reassure him but he put the phone down on me. I phoned Amy and she told me there had been an incident the night before when they were out in Bolton and he assaulted her.
