Father-to-be who kicked his heavily pregnant ex-girlfriend to death just days before she was due to give birth found guilty of murder and child destruction

A father-to-be who kicked his pregnant ex girlfriend to death has been found guilty of murder and causing the death of her unborn child. 
Tony McLernon, 24, lured Eystna Blunnie to an address in Harlow, Essex, in June last year two days before she was due to give birth with a text message saying 'I've got a surprise for you'.
When she arrived, he savagely beat Miss Blunnie, 20, and left her in the middle of the street in a pool of blood.
She later died from severe face and head injuries, as did the unborn child, which she was planning to name Mia Rose.
When questioned by police McLernon claimed she had been attacked by two men and he had been unable to defend her.
But a jury at Chelmsford Crown Court took just two hours to find him guilty of both murder and child destruction today.
He will be sentenced tomorrow.
Miss Blunnie’s family released a statement after the verdict which said: 'In June of 2012 our family was shattered by the death of a loving daughter, Eystna, and her unborn child, Rose.
'The worst part was to find out that their deaths were such a brutal murder.
'However today justice has prevailed for our daughter and granddaughter with the conviction of their killer.'

Brutal: A heavily-pregnant Eystna Blunnie, pictured, was found dying on the side of a road in Harlow

Violent: DCI Lucy Robinson described Tony McLernon as a 'dangerous and violent man' after he was found guilty of murder

Frightening: A CCTV image captured Eystna Blunnie walking to meet Tony McLernon in the street

Speaking outside court, Detective Chief Inspector Lucy Robinson said: 'Tony McLernon is a dangerous, violent man.

 

'He has subjected numerous ex-girlfriends to constant fear of being assaulted, and Eystna paid the ultimate price during his final violent outburst.
'What he has taken away from the Blunnie family can never be replaced, but I hope he never has the opportunity to put another family through the pain they continue to suffer.'

McLernon, of North Grove, Harlow, had earlier told the court how he had been drinking more than 20 litres of cider and Lambrini a day and was addicted to the computer game Guitar Hero at the time of the attack.
He described how he would rarely leave his bedroom, instead spending hours on end playing the Xbox game.
The court heard how the couple got engaged in 2011 after meeting on Facebook but their relationship deteriorated and they split up early in 2012.
In the weeks leading up to the killing he had told friends and family that Miss Blunnie was trying to ruin his new relationship, telling one he expected to go to prison for what he planned to do.
Giving evidence, McLernon said he had been 'over the moon' about the impending birth adding that, in the days leading up to Miss Blunnie’s death, they had been getting on well.
He said that his drinking and gaming habits put strain on his relationship with Miss Blunnie.
Unemployed McLernon told the court that his drinking began at the age of 16.

Investigation: Police outside the home of Tony McLernon last year

Distraught: People lay flowers on the side of a main road in Harlow near to where Eystna Blunnie and her unborn baby were brutally beaten to death

Grief: Two friends console each other beside tributes to the college student who was due to give birth

For several years he had met friends in a park near his Harlow home and would drink up to 12 pints of lager most nights, he said.
As his alcoholism, funded by Jobseeker’s Allowance, worsened, he sought out cheaper and stronger drinks.
He said: 'A group of us would meet by a bench and drink. I would normally have about 12 pints of lager.
'But in 2012 my drinking changed significantly.
'I would buy two or three litre bottles of strong cider from the supermarket and mix it with Lambrini to make a drink with 13 per cent alcohol.
'We called it rocket fuel. By the middle of the year I was drinking a mix of 10 or 11 bottles per day.
'I would be sick, vomiting everywhere, falling out of bed and at times the ambulance would have to be called.'
Describing the moment Eystna was supposedly attacked by two men, McLernon said: 'I saw the two men run off up a path and, when I saw Eystna injured in the street, I nearly screamed.'
He said he tried to put his former partner in the recovery position.
'There was more blood than I care to remember and she made a horrible sound,' McLernon added.
'I tried to turn my phone on but it took a while to load up. There wasn't anything I could do.
'I saw one of the men running back towards me so I panicked and I ran.
'I was in no fit state to try to defend her - the look in his eyes was terrible and I thought he was going to give me a kicking.'

Tragic: More friends of Eystna Blunnie, lay floral tributes at the scene. They have also written messages of condolence on Facebook

Shocking: A mourner reads some of the touching messages left at the spot where Miss Blunnie was found

He added that he had not been able to tell anybody about what happened that night because 'it made me feel sick'.
CCTV footage captured a heavily-pregnant Eystna Blunnie, a catering student and barmaid, walking through the Harlow estate to meet McLernon talking on her mobile phone.
She was due to give birth to a girl within days when she died.
She told McLernon she was pregnant with his child in October 2011 but they broke up the following year.
He said that he had been 'over the moon' about the impending birth and that the pair had been getting on well.

Asked if the text message was part of a scheme to tempt her to meet him, he said 'absolutely not' adding the surprise was that he had brought his dog, Alan, to see her.

McLernon, who said he had suffered from depression and was prone to self-harm, denied claims he had physically abused her and previous partners.

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