Man who strangled woman found guilty of grave and criminal assault

Thursday 21 March 2024

A 51-year-old man has been convicted of grave and criminal assault after kicking, punching and strangling a woman in her home.

A jury unanimously found John Sebastian Nicolle guilty of the offence today after a three-day trial in the Royal Court this week.

Crown Advocate Lauren Hallam described the assault, which took place in June last year.

She said: “He slapped her and punched her and repeatedly kicked her as she lay curled up on the floor. He strangled her.”

The attack left the woman fearing for her life. Her injuries included a bruising to her eye, neck, behind her ear and on her arm. Nicolle has also reported to have kicked the victim's dog.

Nicolle asserted that he was “not a violent man” and claimed the woman had made up the allegations.

Advocate Rui Tremoceiro, defending, questioned why no neighbours had given evidence and why the victim did not have more visible injuries.

But Advocate Lauren Hallam countered that if she had invented the allegations, she would not have been so initially reluctant to report them.

Nicolle has been remanded in custody and is due to return to court tomorrow to hear the date for his sentencing.

Commissioner Alan Binnington was presiding.