Assault trial: “I’m going to kill you”’

Monday 11 November 2019

Jersey’s Magistrate’s Court has heard how an altercation between a man and a woman allegedly got out of hand at an address in St. Brelade, on 13 July this year.

Graham John Aley (62) appeared in Court today charged with Grave and Criminal Assault, a charge he denies.

The alleged victim, questioned by Prosecuting Advocate Carla Carvalho, told the court how the defendant attacked her, and held her in a headlock so hard she couldn’t scream, after allegedly telling her, "I’m going to kill you."

Advocate James Bell for the Defence suggested it was a false complaint, something the alleged victim vehemently denied.  Advocate Bell pointed out that the alleged victim had also phoned the police three days earlier, after the defendant reportedly took and hid her phone. 

The alleged victim gave evidence behind a screen, so as to be separated from the defendant; yet the Defence told the court the pair had in fact voluntarily agreed to meet for lunch in August, a few weeks after the alleged incident, and ten days prior to Mr Aley being charged with the offence. 

Mr Aley denies the allegations and told the Court in evidence that he was not a violent man, and that he had never been violent to anyone, "male or female."

The trial is presided over by Magistrate Peter Harris, and is expected to last all day.