The Duke of Marlborough is accused of strangling his estranged wife, court documents show. Charles James Spencer-Churchill, who is related to Sir Winston Churchill and Diana, Princess of Wales, is accused of three offences of intentional strangulation between November 2022 and May 2024. The 70-year-old was summonsed to appear at Oxford Magistrates' Court on Thursday following his arrest in May last year but the court heard he was unable to attend.
While the involved officer, like any individual, is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, the charges do not reflect the values or expectations of the Portland Police Bureau. This incident occurred off duty and is being handled by another agency, and we are cooperating and conducting our own internal review. Our commitment to accountability and public trust remains unwavering.
An anti-trafficking campaigner has welcomed the ban on pornography featuring strangulation, known as choking, saying it will help stop young people thinking it is a normal and safe practice. Samantha Browne, who suffered exploitation as a teenager in the adult industry, said the ban would help prevent children mimicking violent sex they have seen onscreen, and she hoped it would open the door to ending other forms of abusive pornography.
A Millis Police officer was placed on unpaid leave as he awaits trial on charges of domestic assault and strangulation of a family member. On Wednesday, Craig Thompson pleaded not guilty to charges of strangulation and assault and battery at his arraignment in Wrentham District Court. The court released him on personal recognizance as he awaits his pretrial hearing on Oct. 14.
A Manhattan grand jury has indicted a 37-year-old man accused of choking a woman until she lost consciousness and sexually assaulting her on a Midtown sidewalk last month, District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced Wednesday. Anthony Smith, of NYC, is accused of attempting to forcibly rape a 21-year-old woman on Aug. 10 in Hell's Kitchen, according to the indictment filed in New York State Supreme Court. The grand jury charged him with two counts of attempted rape in the first degree, two counts of first-degree sexual abuse, and two counts of strangulation.