'Devil in drink' guilty of domestic violence assault

Monday 15 October 2018

A man described as “devil in drink” has been found guilty of violently assaulting his ex-partner.

Philip Steven Goguelin (44) was convicted of the domestic assault, which caused a wound to the victim’s head as well as bruising to her arms and abdomen, after a trial in the Magistrate's Court last week.

Goguelin committed the offence on 9 July after an argument between the couple turned violent.

The Court heard that he punched the victim in the stomach and threw her across the room before smashing her head against a wall. He then dragged her out of the flat, smashed her head again and dragged her by her arms down three flights of stairs to the street.

Giving testimony during the trial, the victim told Court that Goguelin was “absolutely steaming” and said that she felt “petrified”. 

Speaking of their relationship, she said: “He really hurt me. He took away my soul… I was in a relationship with him because I was cornered. He controlled me, [he] tormented me.”

Breaking down whilst giving her evidence, she added: “This is the first time I’m actually standing up for myself. I was vulnerable when I met Phil… There might be another vulnerable person who isn’t as strong as me."

Pictured: Philip Goguelin was tried in the Magistrate's Court and found guilty of grave and criminal assault against his former partner.

Summing up the case against Goguelin, Crown Advocate Chris Baglin said: “It was a violent attack, it was a drunken attack and it was a sustained attack.”

But Advocate James Bell, defending, said there was "much to be unsure of." He described the victim’s testimony as “unconvincing” and caller her an “unreliable historian” due to the fact she had also been drinking on the day of the assault.

Despite this, having listened to both sides of the case, Magistrate Bridget Shaw said that she found the victim to be a “compelling witness”.

Informing the Court of her verdict, she commented: “[The victim] was very willing to admit her faults… Despite everything she said she had been through, she wished you well. She said that when you hadn’t been drinking she appeared to be fond of you. She said that you were a 'devil in drink'.

“She was worried about a future relationship and that someone else would suffer as she had.”

Magistrate Shaw noted that the incident had taken place “in the context of a volatile relationship” before telling Court that she was satisfied Goguelin had committed the grave and criminal assault. 

He has been remanded in custody until he is sentenced.