Paul Pressland, a 63-year-old property developer from Sandbanks, is accused of strangling his estranged wife, Gemma Martin, 52, during an argument over their divorce in December 2024. Pressland testified in Salisbury Crown Court, claiming he was defending himself against Martin, whom he described as an 'Amazonian' woman involved in kickboxing. He stated that he did not recall putting his hands near her neck but had touched her chest in an attempt to calm the situation. Pressland denied the charge of intentional strangulation, suggesting that Martin's neck injury could have been caused by a wetsuit she wore for a charity swim the day before the incident.
The confrontation reportedly occurred after Pressland learned from a friend that Martin was filing for divorce. He described the argument as heated, with Martin allegedly throwing her slippers at him. Prosecutors allege that Pressland pinned Martin against a door and strangled her, causing her to fear for her life. Pressland contended that he was the victim, asserting he did not use excessive force and was only trying to placate the situation.
During the proceedings, Martin testified that Pressland had pushed her, grabbed her arms, and punched her in the back. She described the incident as traumatic, stating that she screamed and hyperventilated after he released her. Her son, Henry, testified that he heard her scream and rushed to help her, describing the sound as 'barbaric.' Martin initially told Pressland she would not report the incident if he granted her a divorce, but later reported it to the police two days after the incident. The trial continues as both sides present their accounts of the events leading to the alleged assault.