Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
I still love partner who pushed me off 20ft wall
Injured woman’s plea to keep lover out of prison
A BUSINESSMAN who almost killed his girlfriend by throwing her over a wall was spared prison yesterday after she said she still loved him.
Andrew Pilliner, 42, grabbed Clara Martin around the throat, picked up her legs and launched her over the 20ft drop during a drunken row on a night out.
Miss Martin, who is in her 30s, landed on concrete and suffered a head wound and a broken neck. But she told police from her hospital bed that her partner of 10 years was a “nice man” and a “good father” to their four children.
Judge Jonathan Fuller said he took an “exceptional course” to suspend Pilliner’s 16-month prison term.
He added: “You partner’s express desire was that she loved you and hoped nothing would happen to you.”
Yesterday the couple embraced after Pilliner walked free from Bournemouth crown court. The judge was earlier told they had been on a night out in the town when they started arguing on September 21. Prosecutor Mike Mason said: “He was seen to grab her around the throat with his right hand and push her backwards over a wall. He then picked up her legs and threw her completely over the wall.”
He added: “She sustained a serious injury but she could have been killed.”
The court heard the area was dark and Pilliner, who runs a print supply firm, did not know what was on the other side of the drop. Miss Martin needed 14 stitches and wore a neck collar for four months.
Pilliner’s lawyer, Pavlos Panayi QC, said his client drank a “shocking” 200 to 300 units of alcohol a week and could not remember the incident.
But the court heard he was willing to tackle his addiction. Mr Panayi added: “He could easily have killed or paralysed the woman he loves, he is shocked by that. But she sits in court today to prove to you, ‘I am not frightened of him’.”
Pilliner, of Christchurch, Dorset, admitted unlawful wounding.