Murder trial hears Scot blamed knife horror on accident & self-defence

A SCOTS soldier accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend told police she stabbed herself through the throat, a court heard yesterday. Prosecutors say Trimaan “Harry” Dhillon repeatedly stabbed and slashed Alice Ruggles, 24, while she fought desperately for her life. But the Royal Highland Fusilier told detectives she died in a tragic accident as he defended himself from her. A pathologist said Dhillon’s story did not explain Alice’s injuries, including a gaping 4.7-inch cut to her neck. She said Alice’s neck had been stabbed or slashed at least six times. Dhillon, 26, said he drove from Edinburgh, where his battalion is based, to Alice’s flat in Gateshead near Newcastle on October 12 last year. He said he wanted to collect some clothes and £90 she owed him and to talk about their split. Dhillon claimed he and Alice argued outside the flat and he climbed through a window to get his clothes. He said Alice then came at him with a carving knife.

He told police he put her in a headlock and she collapsed in the bathroom, falling on a set of scales and cutting her nose.

Dhillon said Alice then asked if he had really come to collect clothes, and he admitted he was going to Durham to meet another woman. He said she then grabbed the knife again and tried to attack him.

He said Alice lunged at him and he went towards her, planning to put her in a bearhug to stop her stabbing him.

The accused said Alice hit her head on the sink and lost her balance. And as they came together, the momentum pushed the knife into the righthand side of her throat.

Dhillon added that the blade was driven further into Alice’s neck when she fell to the floor.

As Alice lay bleeding to death, Dhillon said he heard “gurgling noises”. He said he suffered flashbacks to an accident in Afghanistan where a comrade died of neck injuries.

He said he panicked, fearing he would be accused of killing Alice. He fled without dialling 999 and drove home, contemplating suicide.

Prosecutor Richard Wright QC told the jury about Dhillon’s story. He said it was the fourth version of events he had given.

Mr Wright said Dhillon at first denied going into the flat, but changed his story after learning that Alice’s blood had been found on the steering wheel of his BMW and his Help for Heroes wristband.

His DNA was found under Alice’s fingernails, jurors heard.

Mr Wright asked pathologist Dr Jennifer Bolton if Dhillon’s story explained Alice’s injuries.

Dr Bolton said Alice had a gaping wound to her neck, 4.7 inches long and more than an inch wide. It had cut her carotid artery, windpipe and voicebox and penetrated all the way to her spine.

The witness said the injury caused catastrophic blood loss and was unsurvivable.

Mr Wright asked: “Is that the sort of injury you would expect if the knife was stuck?” Dr Bolton replied: “No.” Mr Wright: “A single penetration and removal – would you accept or reject that?”

Dr Bolton: “I would reject it. This injury has been caused by multiple uses of the knife.”

The court heard Alice also had defensive injuries to her hands, a “slice” wound on her nose and bruising to her back and chest which suggested someone had knelt on her.

Dr Bolton said those injuries were inconsistent with Dhillon’s version of events.

Muscular six-footer Dhillon is accused of murdering 5ft 2in Alice after she left him and found a new boyfriend.

The court has heard Alice went to police 10 days before her death and claimed Dhillon was stalking her.

She said he had hacked her social media and that of her new man, an Army officer. She said she was terrified.

Alice said Dhillon sounded “crazy” and “completely obsessed” in messages he sent. And her sister Emma told how Alice said of the police: “They will f ****** respond once he has f ****** stabbed me.”

Dhillon, of Glencorse Barracks, Edinburgh, denies murder. The trial at Newcastle Crown Court continues.