Murderer Ricardo Morrison had history of attacking women

Jul 28 2009 By Pat Hurst, Press Association

Ricardo Morrison, who has been convicted of murdering 19-year-old model Amy Leigh Barnes, was an arrogant bully who thought nothing of attacking women.

The 22-year-old, from Birmingham, who was once offered a professional football contract, swaggered into court every day wearing a waistcoat and diamond stud earrings, often adjusting his tie as he listened emotionless to the evidence of how he killed his own girlfriend.

He first met Amy Leigh Barnes on Facebook. His new girlfriend spent a lot of time going to nightclubs frequented by footballers.

In fact, a professional football contract from Birmingham City had been on the table for Morrison, then aged 17, but was suddenly withdrawn, sources say due to his "terrible attitude".

After the club released him in 2003 he dropped down the leagues but made no further impression, though he did coach children for a time.

Despite his mother being a well-respected community police officer, on his own MySpace profile Morrison boasted his heritage was "Yardy" (sic), his favourite films the violent gangster movies Goodfellas, Scarface and The Godfather.

He dressed "trendy and classy", wanted to "achieve" and to be his own boss, and listed his one weakness as women.

In February 2005 he was convicted of assault after he locked his then girlfriend in a car grabbed her by the throat and bit her on the face - puncturing her skin.

In fact, his mother handed him into the police on that occasion and he received a police caution.

But six months later there was another row. His girlfriend asked him to leave so he slapped and punched her and was given a community order for common assault at Birmingham Magistrates' Court.

Two months later he attacked her again. Again he bit her on the face, punched her and put his hand over her mouth.