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Girlfriend threatens French businessman with dog attack
By Alvina Soh | Posted: 04 November 2011 1922 hrs
SINGAPORE: A French businessman, who is accused of smothering his Vietnamese girlfriend, claimed in court on Friday that she had tried to get her friends, and even her dog to attack him.
Sylvain Christian Emile Pilhion, 38, is accused of using criminal force on Ms Jocelyn Quynh-Anh Pohl, a recruitment consultant, by grabbing her and tossing her on a bed.
He also allegedly bit her left hand and tried to smother her with a pillow on March 29.
However, Pilhion denied the alleged incidents in court Friday, claiming that Pohl instructed her black labrador to attack him and when that ruse failed, threatened to send her friends to kill him.
Pilhion, who has a two-year-old daughter, said that Pohl and him had a falling out earlier that day when he mentioned that he was going to meet his wife to discuss their divorce.
He also told the court that Pohl was depressed and had mood swings in the days prior to the incident.
He said their relationship deteriorated throughout the day, and eventually ended up in a minor scuffle, which led to Ms Pohl shutting herself in the toilet.
Pilhion said he followed her into the toilet, where he comforted her, before carrying her off to bed.
He rebutted claims that he had instead, wrongfully restrained her by grabbing her and tossing her onto the bed.
The tall and well-built man said that when he tried to hug her later, she pushed him and went 'crazy' by throwing things at him and hitting him in the chest and face.
Pilhion said that he pushed her away by "pressing a cushion to the side of her face", and denied smothering her face with a pillow.
Pilhion also responded to allegations that he had bit her hand, claiming that Pohl had unexpectedly placed a fist in his mouth during the skirmish, causing him to unintentionally bite it.
The court heard that Pohl eventually called the police, and Pilhion was later remanded.
The trial will continue once new hearing dates have been arranged.
- CNA /ls
