A young woman who was viciously beaten and singed with cigarettes says she's afraid her attackers may come after her again.

Kathie-Lee Bennet was kicked, punched and burned over a two-hour period on Sept. 20 in Dartmouth.

Kathie-Lee Bennet spoke with reporters Monday.
(CBC)

Three girls, ages 18, 14 and 15, have been charged with aggravated assault. They are in custody at the Waterville youth detention centre awaiting bail hearings.

Bennet, 18, told reporters Monday she was out that evening with friends, unaware that she was apparently being targeted for an attack.

The group left a Tim Hortons, went to a nearby bus stop, then to a field near John Martin Jr. High School. That's where she says three girls punched and kicked her, then thrust lit cigarettes deep inside her ear and singed her hair with a lighter.

At first Bennet did not understand what was happening. But as the violence escalated, she began to fear for her life.

This photo was taken shortly after the attack.
(courtesy Bennet family)

"Then they started hitting me with their belts off their pants too in the head," she said. "I don't think I would be here today if I didn't get away when I did."

When two teenage boys came by and talked with the attackers, Bennet ran away to a nearby apartment for help.

"People walked by and said, 'Don't get me involved, do what you gotta do,' and then the two guys came and started talking to them and they just offered a cigarette, and then I ran," she said.

The man who answered the door has told reporters that the girl's face was so cut, bloodied and swollen that he wouldn't be able to recognize her today.

Bennet suffered a broken nose and had to have her eye socket surgically repaired.

Bennet said she's afraid her attackers may seek her out again. She said they claimed she had ratted on the group, but she denies doing that.

Rick Bennet said the girls who attacked his daughter need help.

"We have to do something with the system," he said. "We have to get help for these people."