Heartbroken accused ‘punched by ex in car’

A ‘ HEARTBROKEN’ suicidal man accused of trapping his former partner in the car before attempting to burn them both to death told a court he was being ‘punched’ during a frantic struggle.

Gary Travers, 43, denied he was trying to kill Waterlooville psychologist Dr Georgina Ingall after she ended the relationship.

In his second day of giving evidence at Portsmouth Crown Court, Travers admitted having a two-litre water bottle filled up with petrol in his Audi TT after arranging to meet Dr Ingall at the White Hart pub car park on Hambledon Road, Denmead, on Christmas Eve last year to exchange Christmas gifts and say ‘goodbye’.

But the defendant told the court he only had the petrol to show his former lover what he would do to himself.

‘I wanted to show her my intentions to kill myself,’ he told jurors. ‘It was getting too much. I wanted her to help.’

Once inside the car Travers said he gave Dr Ingall flowers and Prosecco before his attempts to rekindle the relationship were crushed.

Travers recalled pulling out the bottle of petrol after telling Dr Ingall: ‘I’ve had enough... I’ve got a present for myself.’

Whilst clutching the bottle the defendant then said: ‘I’ve got my pills with me as well.

‘She said she was not interested – I felt terrible.’

Travers then admitted he started to unscrew the cap so the unsuspecting Dr Ingall would realise it was petrol in the bottle – before a struggle erupted.

‘She was pushing the bottle away from herself towards me. Petrol went in my face and eyes,’ Travers said.

‘I had no idea what happened to the bottle after letting go of it. The next thing I remember she was shouting “let me out, let me out” and started banging on the window.

‘I was saying “calm down don’t panic”. She then started trying to punch me. I tried to protect myself by pushing her arms down.’

Travers told socially distanced jurors he then attempted to open the windows while Dr Ingall briefly got hold of the keys which had fallen onto his leg before he ‘grabbed’ them back.

The defendant denied telling a man he had intended to kill both himself and his ex-partner. Asked by Richard Onslow, for the defence, if he had tried to hold Dr Ingall in the car and set light to her, Travers replied: ‘No.’

Asked if he had threatened to kill her, Travers said: ‘No.’

Travers, of no fixed abode, denies attempted murder, making threats to kill and false imprisonment. (Proceeding)