He mentioned Torney had assumed obligation of take care of Bates as a result of the pair had been in a de facto relationship, had been residing collectively earlier than she died, and he knew she had persistent diabetes.
Cookson advised the courtroom Torney had violently assaulted Bates the evening earlier than she died, prompting her to say to him: “John, have a look at what you’ve performed.” He mentioned the accused later advised police Bates’ brow had been “pissing out blood”.
“That was the situation of her head as she lay moaning and groaning and unable to be woken up the subsequent morning,” Cookson mentioned.
He mentioned Torney had did not name an ambulance following the assault as a result of he was involved concerning the prison penalties.
Cookson mentioned Torney had acted negligently to a “prison commonplace” as a result of if Bates had acquired well timed medical care the ketoacidosis may have been handled, and she or he would possibly nonetheless be alive.
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Nonetheless, defence barrister Hayden Rattray rejected the notion the 2 had been in de facto partnership and mentioned their relationship was “extraordinary shortlived” and commenced between two and 4 weeks earlier than her dying.
Rattray advised the courtroom that the cost of negligent manslaughter must be dropped as a result of whereas Torney had exhibited a “ethical failing of fairly vital character”, a jury couldn’t discover past affordable doubt he had induced Bates’ dying by failing to hunt medical help.
He argued Torney had no understanding of diabetic ketoacidosis, and it remained unclear when she began to exhibit indicators of this complication.
The courtroom beforehand heard within the days earlier than Bates was discovered lifeless her accused killer’s relations noticed her face bloodied and bruised on a number of events.
His mom, Belinda Torney, advised the courtroom her son mentioned he had punched Bates within the head thrice earlier than she was discovered lifeless.
John Torney had moved out of his mom’s home subsequent door following a fallout along with her and his brother and into Bates’ dwelling shortly earlier than her dying.
Belinda Torney additionally advised the courtroom she had requested her son to name an ambulance when he confided in her that he was unable to wake Bates up.
“He goes, ‘She’s respiration. She’s not lifeless … f—ing fool’. I mentioned to him, ‘Nicely, perhaps get her an ambulance’, and he mentioned he would if she didn’t get up,” she advised the courtroom final month.
She advised the courtroom she additionally she grew to become involved about Bates’ blood sugar ranges and ultimately known as the police, who did a welfare examine and located the lady lifeless.
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Torney’s brother, Craig Challie, additionally advised a listening to the final time he noticed Bates she had a swollen, bloodied lip.
Bates’ heartbroken household have remembered her as a loving and type one that all the time noticed the nice in folks.
A courtroom listening to into Bates’ dying in October final 12 months was advised that Torney had advised Challie he was going to “chop her physique up into bits and items”.
Throughout the identical listening to, a police assertion learn out to the courtroom detailed that Torney’s mom had described him as a “monster” and mentioned she was afraid of him.
