Squaddie in murder trial had threatened ex-lover
A SOLDIER accused of murdering his former girlfriend by slitting her throat was made the subject of a restraining order after accosting another former lover in the street, a court heard yesterday.
Lance Corporal Trimaan Dhillon confronted the woman and demanded to know why she had ended their relationship, before spitting in her face.
The 26-year-old is on trial accused of murdering university graduate Alice Ruggles by slashing her throat with a kitchen knife at her flat in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear.
Dhillon, a signaller with the Royal Highland Fusiliers (2 Scots), believed she was about to start seeing another man.
Miss Ruggles, who worked for Sky UK in Newcastle, had previously told police she felt terrified by Dhillon but chose not to have him arrested.
Prosecutor Richard Wright, QC, said that after a previous relationship with Eniko Nemeth had ended, he accosted her in the street in Faversham, Kent, in June 2013. He told the jury: ‘He confronted her and during the confrontation he demanded to know why she had ended the relationship.
‘She warned him she would call the police but he continued to block her path, he appeared worked up and tense.
‘She was joined by a male friend and he said, “Is this who you are sleeping with? I cannot believe you would leave me for this. Why did you take my girlfriend away?”’
Playing the jury CCTV footage of the incident, Mr Wright said Dhillon eventually ran away after calling her a bitch and spitting in her face.
The soldier, who is based at Glencorse Barracks in Penicuik, Midlothian, was charged with common assault but on the day of the trial the case was discontinued after he accepted a restraining order for a year.
He is accused of travelling from his barracks last October and lying in wait for Miss Ruggles.
He broke in and there was a violent struggle which an upstairs neighbour heard, Mr Wright said. The court heard that Miss Ruggles’s throat was sliced six times and she also suffered wounds to her nose and hand as well as chest injuries, as if she had been knelt on.
The murder weapon has not been found but a knife was missing from the kitchen.
Despite hearing evidence of his jealous nature and inability to accept the end of his relationships, the jury heard Dhillon was cheating on Miss Ruggles with two other women.
The trial was earlier told of his possessive behaviour, demanding to know where Miss Ruggles was, what she was wearing and accusing her of dressing sexily to attract other men.
The court heard that despite his cheating, Dhillon continued to bombard Miss Ruggles with messages and stalk her.
Beginning his defence, Dhillon told the court his relationship with Miss Ruggles had begun over Facebook while he was serving in Afghanistan.
He said they had been introduced by a mutual friend and they would exchange messages and video calls.
Dhillon, who told the jury he was from India and his father had been in the Army, said he wanted to take things slowly because of how a previous relationship had ended.
During questioning from defence QC Jamie Hill, Dhillon said they often argued and there were periods when they would be apart.
This included one incident where he said he discovered messages from another male on her social media accounts.
He said: ‘I chucked the iPad in front of her and said, “That’s it, I’m leaving”.’
Dhillon denies murder. The trial, at Newcastle Crown Court, continues.
‘Worked up and tense’