Ashton Kennedy turns himself in to police after ex-girlfriend shares story of abuse

A man who was convicted of assaulting his girlfriend, then stopped showing up to court, has turned himself into police nine months after a warrant was issued for his arrest and one day after his former girlfriend shared her story of abuse.

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary confirms that Ashton Kennedy, 26, turned himself into headquarters in St. John's Thursday morning.

Kennedy will remain in custody until at least Tuesday.

• He admitted to assaulting her, then stopped going to court. She is still waiting for justice

CBC News reported Wednesday on Melissa Gulliver, a St. John's woman who was assaulted by Kennedy in late 2018.

He pleaded guilty and went through family violence intervention court, but stopped attending in the summer of 2019.

A warrant had been issued for his arrest ever since, and the RNC said they could not find him.

Gulliver has been notified of Kennedy's arrest.

Kennedy admitted in court to slapping his then-girlfriend Gulliver in the face, breaking a lamp, punching a hole in the wall, pushing her down on a bed, and slapping her again.

Gulliver learned from the RNC officer who took her statement the night of the assault that Kennedy had been convicted of abusing another woman before her. She was not aware.

She said her case highlights the need for what's known as "Clare's Law," which would allow police agencies to disclose a person's criminal record of domestic violence to their current partner. It received royal assent in the Newfoundland and Labrador legislature in December.

Kennedy was to appear before a provincial court judge Thursdayon charges of assault, failure to comply with probation, failure to attend court, and threecounts of failing to comply with an undertaking. His case has been set over until next week, and will remain in custody until then.

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