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British businessman goes on trial for murder of millionaire girlfriend British businessman goes on trial for murder of millionaire girlfriend
(35 minutes later)
A British businessman accused of murder ing his girlfriend in their five-star Paris hotel held his head in his hands day as the court was shown photographs of a bloodsoaked mattress and her naked bruised body in the bathtub. A British businessman accused of murdering his girlfriend in their five-star Paris hotel held his head in his hands day as the court was shown photographs of a bloodsoaked mattress and her naked bruised body in the bathtub.
Ian Griffin had told the court on the trial’s opening day that he was addicted to alcohol and anti-depressants at the time of the killing in May 2009.Ian Griffin had told the court on the trial’s opening day that he was addicted to alcohol and anti-depressants at the time of the killing in May 2009.
Appearing on crutches because of a degenerative neurological disorder which has affected his ability to walk, Griffin said: “I didn’t know you needed more and more and more and more.” Appearing on crutches because of a degenerative neurological disorder which has affected his ability to walk, Griffin, 45, said: “I didn’t know you needed more and more and more and more.”
Police arrived at the Bristol hotel at about 9pm on 26 May 2009 after a security guard discovered the body of Polish-born millionaire Kinga Wolf, 36, who had been Griffin’s girlfriend since the previous year. The guard checked the suite, which had a Please Do Not Disturb sign on the doorknob, after Wolf’s brother Marek told hotel staff he had been unable to reach her.Police arrived at the Bristol hotel at about 9pm on 26 May 2009 after a security guard discovered the body of Polish-born millionaire Kinga Wolf, 36, who had been Griffin’s girlfriend since the previous year. The guard checked the suite, which had a Please Do Not Disturb sign on the doorknob, after Wolf’s brother Marek told hotel staff he had been unable to reach her.
Chief inspector Xavier Le Noë said the crime scene was one of a rare violence, and the attacker had attempted to conceal evidence of the murder before fleeing the scene. Griffin, who said he had no recollection of the events, left the Bristol on the afternoon of 25 May after ordering three cups of coffee. He waited outside the room to collect the order and told a hotel employee his wife was sleeping, according to police testimony. Chief inspector Xavier Le Noë said the crime scene was one of rare violence, and the attacker had attempted to conceal evidence of the murder before fleeing the scene. Griffin, who said he had no recollection of the events, left the Bristol on the afternoon of 25 May after ordering three cups of coffee. He waited outside the room to collect the order and told a hotel employee his wife was sleeping, according to police testimony.
Le Noë said the hotel room had been trashed in a frenzy, with smears of blood or red wine all over the suite. Police images showed clothes stuffed into bags in the hallway and drops of blood on a shirt and on shoes. A bloody footprint on the parquet floor was photographed. Pieces of furniture and a mirror were smashed and stuffed into a wardrobe. Mattresses, which had been stripped, were overturned in an attempt to conceal blood which was dripping on to the headboard. Two white towels were placed on the bedroom floor to mop up blood. Le Noë said the hotel room had been trashed in a frenzy, with smears of blood or red wine all over the suite. Police images showed clothes stuffed into bags in the hallway and drops of blood on a shirt and on shoes. A bloody footprint on the parquet floor was photographed.Pieces of furniture and a mirror were smashed and stuffed into a wardrobe. Mattresses, which had been stripped, were overturned in an attempt to conceal blood which was dripping on to the headboard. Two white towels were placed on the bedroom floor to mop up blood.
Police took away the marble top of a bedside table which they suspect may have been the murder weapon. A broken stun gun was also found in the suite.Police took away the marble top of a bedside table which they suspect may have been the murder weapon. A broken stun gun was also found in the suite.
Wolf’s bra had been cut into shreds. Her body, covered in bruises, was in the bath which was three-quarters filled. Wolf had dark swellings on her left eye and cheek, and a ring of bruises around her neck. Her head could be seen hanging limply on the side of the bath. There was also severe bruising on her abdomen. Sheets and pillows were left in the shower, which was left running with the “clear intention” of covering up the murder, the officer said.Wolf’s bra had been cut into shreds. Her body, covered in bruises, was in the bath which was three-quarters filled. Wolf had dark swellings on her left eye and cheek, and a ring of bruises around her neck. Her head could be seen hanging limply on the side of the bath. There was also severe bruising on her abdomen. Sheets and pillows were left in the shower, which was left running with the “clear intention” of covering up the murder, the officer said.
Griffin, 45, fled in his father’s Porsche and was arrested five days later outside Macclesfield, Cheshire, in woodland where he was sleeping rough. Griffin fled in his father’s Porsche and was arrested five days later outside Macclesfield, Cheshire, in woodland where he was sleeping rough.
The murder took place after the couple had a violent alcohol-fuelled argument over dinner in Bound restaurant on the Champs-Elysées. Wolf, who had built her fortune on exporting tomatoes to Britain, had accused Griffin of infidelity.The murder took place after the couple had a violent alcohol-fuelled argument over dinner in Bound restaurant on the Champs-Elysées. Wolf, who had built her fortune on exporting tomatoes to Britain, had accused Griffin of infidelity.
When asked on Monday whether he continued to see his former girlfriend Tracey Baker while dating Wolf, Griffin said his involvement with women was “complicated”.When asked on Monday whether he continued to see his former girlfriend Tracey Baker while dating Wolf, Griffin said his involvement with women was “complicated”.
“You can get many things from one person, but when something is missing, you need comfort and you go to the other person to get what you need,” he said.“You can get many things from one person, but when something is missing, you need comfort and you go to the other person to get what you need,” he said.
According to his French lawyer, Griffin intends to plead diminished responsibility. He faces 30 years in jail if found guilty at the end of the five-day trial.According to his French lawyer, Griffin intends to plead diminished responsibility. He faces 30 years in jail if found guilty at the end of the five-day trial.
He told British police that when he woke up in the morning and found Wolf bleeding in bed, he put her in the bath and tried to revive her before panicking and fleeing. He told British police that when he woke up in the morning and found Wolf bleeding in bed, he put her in the bath and tried to revive her before panicking and fleeing.
Asked about his troubled childhood during which he was beaten by his father, Griffin said: “I don’t really remember. I mainly swam. For 10 years it was most of my life.”Asked about his troubled childhood during which he was beaten by his father, Griffin said: “I don’t really remember. I mainly swam. For 10 years it was most of my life.”
He also said he couldn’t remember how much he was earning at the time. Griffin, who had owned tanning salons and a chain of gadget stores, was declared bankrupt in 2006. Bills found in their hotel suite were in the name of Wolf, who had paid for the hire of a luxury yacht near Perpignan where they were due after their stay in Paris.He also said he couldn’t remember how much he was earning at the time. Griffin, who had owned tanning salons and a chain of gadget stores, was declared bankrupt in 2006. Bills found in their hotel suite were in the name of Wolf, who had paid for the hire of a luxury yacht near Perpignan where they were due after their stay in Paris.
Friends of Wolf described Griffin 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 that Griffin had beaten her, but she subsequently asked for the messages to be deleted.Friends of Wolf described Griffin 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 that Griffin had beaten her, but she subsequently asked for the messages to be deleted.
Griffin told his father after the murder that “something terrible has happened” and that Wolf had committed suicide by taking an overdose.Griffin told his father after the murder that “something terrible has happened” and that Wolf had committed suicide by taking an overdose.
Psychiatric tests of Griffin, who was extradited to France in May 2011, have shown that under the influence of drink and drugs he was “disturbed” and “mentally unstable.” But the prosecution intends to prove that he was responsible for his actions in the Bristol.Psychiatric tests of Griffin, who was extradited to France in May 2011, have shown that under the influence of drink and drugs he was “disturbed” and “mentally unstable.” But the prosecution intends to prove that he was responsible for his actions in the Bristol.
The trial continues.The trial continues.