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| British businessman goes on trial for murder of millionaire girlfriend | British businessman goes on trial for murder of millionaire girlfriend |
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| A British businessman who had a stormy relationship with his Polish-born millionaire girlfriend has gone on trial in Paris accused of bludgeoning her to death in their hotel suite after an alcohol-fuelled row. | A British businessman who had a stormy relationship with his Polish-born millionaire girlfriend has gone on trial in Paris accused of bludgeoning her to death in their hotel suite after an alcohol-fuelled row. |
| Ian Griffin listened intently to an interpreter as the charge sheet was read out in court on Monday. He clutched a pair of crutches after suffering from a neurological disease which has affected his ability to walk. | Ian Griffin listened intently to an interpreter as the charge sheet was read out in court on Monday. He clutched a pair of crutches after suffering from a neurological disease which has affected his ability to walk. |
| The body of his girlfriend, 36-year-old Kinga Wolf, was found naked in the bath of their suite at the Hotel Bristol on 26 May 2009. She had been beaten on the head and abdomen and showed signs of having been Tasered. Blood was spattered on the walls, floor and furniture of suite 503, which had a do not disturb sign on the door. | |
| Griffin, originally from Warrington, was arrested five days later in woodland outside Macclesfield, where he had been camping in a tent. A Porsche he had driven to Paris was recovered at his parents’ home in Cheshire. | Griffin, originally from Warrington, was arrested five days later in woodland outside Macclesfield, where he had been camping in a tent. A Porsche he had driven to Paris was recovered at his parents’ home in Cheshire. |
| According to his French lawyer, Griffin, who had suffered from depression and who drank heavily, intends to plead diminished responsibility. He has told police he has no recollection of the events leading to her death, and when he woke up in the morning to find her lying in bed with blood coming out of her mouth, he put her in the bath before panicking and fleeing. | According to his French lawyer, Griffin, who had suffered from depression and who drank heavily, intends to plead diminished responsibility. He has told police he has no recollection of the events leading to her death, and when he woke up in the morning to find her lying in bed with blood coming out of her mouth, he put her in the bath before panicking and fleeing. |
| On the evening of 25 May, the couple were seen arguing in the upmarket Bound restaurant on the Champs-Élysées, where they ordered aperitifs and two bottles of wine and returned separately to the hotel. A hotel employee who took a bottle of wine to their room later that evening witnessed a furious argument between the two, who had been dating for a year. Wolf’s body was discovered the following evening after her brother became concerned that he could not contact her. | On the evening of 25 May, the couple were seen arguing in the upmarket Bound restaurant on the Champs-Élysées, where they ordered aperitifs and two bottles of wine and returned separately to the hotel. A hotel employee who took a bottle of wine to their room later that evening witnessed a furious argument between the two, who had been dating for a year. Wolf’s body was discovered the following evening after her brother became concerned that he could not contact her. |
| Griffin, who was extradited to France in 2011 but kept under house arrest with an electronic tag in 2013 after falling ill, told police that he did not have a violent past. Wolf, who had previously been married to civil servant Peter Legg, had accused Griffin of infidelity and the pair were arrested in 2008 after she attacked him with a knife. | Griffin, who was extradited to France in 2011 but kept under house arrest with an electronic tag in 2013 after falling ill, told police that he did not have a violent past. Wolf, who had previously been married to civil servant Peter Legg, had accused Griffin of infidelity and the pair were arrested in 2008 after she attacked him with a knife. |
| However friends of Wolf described Griffin, 45, as an aggressive alcoholic. The court heard that a few weeks before her death she had sent a text message saying “in case I die” and indicating that Griffin had forced her to take so many pills that she was frightened she might not wake up. A later text said Griffin had beaten her, but she subsequently asked for the messages to be deleted. | However friends of Wolf described Griffin, 45, as an aggressive alcoholic. The court heard that a few weeks before her death she had sent a text message saying “in case I die” and indicating that Griffin had forced her to take so many pills that she was frightened she might not wake up. A later text said Griffin had beaten her, but she subsequently asked for the messages to be deleted. |
| Wolf’s parents believe Griffin was attracted to their daughter because of her fortune, which she had built through a tomato export company. Griffin, who had owned tanning salons and a chain of gadget stores, was declared bankrupt in 2006. | Wolf’s parents believe Griffin was attracted to their daughter because of her fortune, which she had built through a tomato export company. Griffin, who had owned tanning salons and a chain of gadget stores, was declared bankrupt in 2006. |
| The court heard that Wolf had a history of depression and anxiety caused by her unstable relationship with Griffin, and they had been advised to consult a therapist together. Wolf was jealous of Griffin’s former girlfriend, Tracey Baker, with whom he is again in a relationship. | The court heard that Wolf had a history of depression and anxiety caused by her unstable relationship with Griffin, and they had been advised to consult a therapist together. Wolf was jealous of Griffin’s former girlfriend, Tracey Baker, with whom he is again in a relationship. |
| The Paris court heard that Griffin had phoned his father and told him that “something terrible has happened” and that Wolf had killed herself by taking an overdose. | The Paris court heard that Griffin had phoned his father and told him that “something terrible has happened” and that Wolf had killed herself by taking an overdose. |
| Psychiatric tests of Griffin showed that he had a “borderline” personality. Under the influence of drink and drugs he was “disturbed” and “mentally unstable”. | Psychiatric tests of Griffin showed that he had a “borderline” personality. Under the influence of drink and drugs he was “disturbed” and “mentally unstable”. |
| The prosecution is expected to argue that the fact that Griffin had tried to extend the three-day hotel booking, and had taken measures to flee the scene, showed that he was responsible for his actions. He faces a 30-year jail sentence if found guilty at the end of the trial, expected to last five days. | The prosecution is expected to argue that the fact that Griffin had tried to extend the three-day hotel booking, and had taken measures to flee the scene, showed that he was responsible for his actions. He faces a 30-year jail sentence if found guilty at the end of the trial, expected to last five days. |