By\u00a0Georgia Diebelius<\/p>\n
A family have released shocking images that show the extent of their daughter\u2019s injuries, after she was doused in petrol and set on fire by her ex-boyfriend. Judy Malinowski, then 31, bravely fought for her life for 700 days before dying as a result of her wounds. Mum, Bonnie Bowes, 56, of Columbus, Ohio, USA, watched as her daughter suffered for almost two years after being attacked by Michael Slager in August 2015. Judy suffered with third degree burns across 70% of her body, but managed to survive long enough to give a video statement, declaring that Slager was the one responsible. The footage was used in evidence against Slager in July 2018 and he was jailed for life without parole after pleading guilty to murder.<\/p>\n
Now Bonnie, a project manager, is paying tribute to her brave daughter. She says: \u2018Even after going through unimaginable suffering, Judy never wanted Michael to get the death penalty.<\/p>\n
\u2018I just hope her story is a warning to women who are in abusive relationships.\u2019 In April 2006, Judy, who worked in customer service, was told her ovarian cancer had returned after beating the disease 15 months earlier. Soon after, she underwent a full hysterectomy and became hooked on her pain medication. With the help of a private rehabilitation centre, she overcame her addiction and later went into remission. Bonnie says: \u2018We\u2019d always been close and spoke every day. I was so glad she\u2019d recovered from her addiction and was getting her life back together.<\/p>\n
\u2018Nine years later in May 2015, she told me she\u2019d been dating a man named Mike. \u2018I was pleased that she was happy but I had a bad feeling about him.\u2019 As time passed, Judy revealed to her mum that Mike was controlling and even put a tracking device on her phone. Bonnie remembers: \u2018Police said they couldn\u2019t do anything as there was no evidence. Judy tried to end the relationship but Mike wouldn\u2019t let her go.\u2019<\/p>\n
Two weeks later in August 2015, Judy called Bonnie saying that Mike was refusing to leave her house. Bonnie says: \u2018I rushed to her house where I met Mike for the first time. He seemed really arrogant. I told him to leave or I\u2019d call the police. But he sauntered around like he owned the place.<\/p>\n
\u2018Eventually police officers arrived and removed him. \u2018Judy told me that Mike had been giving her painkillers even though he knew about her previous troubles. \u2018So she decided to return to rehab a week later. She didn\u2019t want Mike to control her anymore.\u2019 The day Judy left for rehab, Bonnie received a phone call from Ohio State University Hospital, saying that Judy had been in an accident and was on life support. She says: \u2018Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw when I got to the hospital. \u2018My beautiful daughter was unrecognisable and in an induced coma. Her thick, blonde hair was gone and she\u2019d lost her eyelashes and eyebrows too. \u2018A doctor revealed that she had third and fourth degree burns over 70% of her body. They expected her to die within hours. \u2018I was devastated.\u2019<\/p>\n
The next morning, police revealed Slager had followed Judy to a petrol station where they argued. Judy threw a drink over him and he hit her, before pouring gasoline over her. Then he set her on fire with a cigarette lighter before walking away. Bonnie said: \u2018I couldn\u2019t get my head around what had happened. I told Judy\u2019s daughters that their mum had been hurt by a very bad man and that I\u2019d look after them. \u2018Judy was forced to undergo 60 surgeries including skin grafts. And seven months after her attack, she woke up from the coma. \u2018She was unable to walk and could barely speak above a whisper. She lost her ears, fingers and most of her eyesight. \u2018When she saw herself in a mirror two months later, she vowed that she would help other women. \u2018Judy even recorded a statement from her hospital bed giving evidence against Mike as she knew she would die from her injuries.\u2019 A year after the vicious attack, Slager was convicted of aggravated arson and felonious assault, and jailed for 11 years. Bonnie added: \u2018Then 700 days after she was attacked, Judy died.\u2019 After Judy\u2019s death, state prosecutors charged Michael with murder.<\/p>\n
In July 2018, Michael Slager, 43, pleaded guilty to murder in a plea bargain meaning he avoided the death penalty. He was jailed for life without parole. During the hearing, the court was shown Judy\u2019s brave testimony filmed from her hospital bed. It was the first time that such evidence was allowed to be shown in court. Bonnie said: \u2018I\u2019ve dedicated my life to raising her two girls and they make me proud everyday. \u2018I\u2019m telling Judy\u2019s story to raise awareness of domestic violence. \u2018While it will never bring back Judy, I want to help just one woman to escape the clutches of evil.<\/p>\n
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Source: WARNING – GRAPHIC IMAGES OF INJURIES SUSTAINED BY JUDY MALINOWSKI<\/strong>\u00a0 metro.co.uk\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"