Oxford - Pensioner acquitted after strangulation accusations

 <i>(Image: Oxford Mail)</i>
(Image: Oxford Mail)
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A pensioner has been acquitted after a jury found him not guilty of attacking and strangling his ex-partner.

William Amos, of West Way, Botley, was on trial at Oxford Crown Court.

The 69-year-old had pleaded not guilty to stalking involving fear of violence, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and intentional strangulation against the same woman in December last year.

According to the court record, the allegation of stalking included visiting the woman's home, threatening to kill her, phoning her and leaving abusive voicemails.

The jury previously heard that the alleged victim moved into the same block of flats as Amos after her partner of 25 years died.

She began a relationship with the defendant, but the jury heard it deteriorated.

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On June 16, the jury found Amos not guilty of all three counts by a unanimous verdict.

Judge Ian Pringle KC thanked the members of the jury for their service.

As Amos walked out of the dock, he thanked the jury and whispered 'justice'.

On June 15, Amos took to the witness box and answered question from his barrister.

He described their relationship when he first met the complainant.

Amos said: "She had full permission to come into my property and I had full permission to go into hers. At the time I cared for her and I loved her."

He told the jury he installed a camera in her property looking out of her window onto a car park so he could monitor his van, which he said was being damaged.

Amos also said the camera had a function to pick up audio.

The complainant previously told the jury the relationship ended eight months before December last year.

When asked about this, Amos said: "I wasn't aware she ended it because she didn't tell me about it. I ended it on December 4.

"It was like being in a relationship with an iceberg. Cold, stand-offish. Before I went to Portugal, she was all over me like a rash.

"But when I got back it was like someone had turned the light off."

He added: "I had this gut feeling that something was gong on, she denied it and told me I was talking s***."

Amos told the jury he had heard 'moaning and groaning' on the camera's audio recording.

On December 5, Amos told the jury he went to return some of her belongings that were in his flat.

He said: "She went ballistic. She said she hadn't done anything. She was slapping me and punching me in the chest.

"I couldn't believe she was doing all of this. I said I had enough evidence to ruin her to her family.

"I grabbed her and pushed her onto the sofa."

Amos was asked if he strangled her. He said: "Absolutely not, no way. I just wanted her to sit down and be calm.

"I gave her everything and all I got back was a lie. These allegations are rubbish, there's no prove."

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