[imagesource: Swiked / Tumblr]
You may recall that white/gold-blue/black dress debate that took up rent-free space in our heads in 2015.
A little-known man named Keir Johnston received global attention for ‘#TheDress’ after an image was shared online of his mother-in-law’s outfit during his wedding in 2015 – see the dress up top.
The debate over the dress’s true colours – black and blue or white and gold – “broke the internet”, headlines said at the time and drew thousands of comments including from celebrities.
Kim Kardashian got in on the debate, posting that she had argued about it with her then-husband Kanye West, and then even Ellen DeGeneres invited Johnston and his wife, Grace, on to her talk show, where they were given $10,000 and a trip to Grenada.
All the while, the Johnstons had a violent secret that they were holding on to.
This week, the Scottish court heard that behind closed doors Johnston was doing unspeakable things to his wife, revealing his history of domestic abuse towards her.
Johnston, 38, from the Isle of Colonsay, off the west coast of Scotland, was remanded in custody until his sentence next month, scheduled for June 6. He appeared at the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday, where he pleaded guilty to a “terrifying” attack on his wife, Grace, that left her “fearing for her life,” but alive, according to The Daily Record.
Chris MacIntosh, prosecutor for the Crown, told Lady Drummond and the court how Grace lived in fear of her abusive husband, The Record reported. “There is no permanent police presence on the island, and she was in a situation where she felt trapped,” he said.
The court heard how Mrs Johnston had once defied her husband’s demand not to attend a job interview on the mainland. A few days later, he informed her that he was leaving her. This led to an altercation in which Mr Johnston grabbed his wife and threw her to the ground.
“Johnston woke up and said that he was going to leave her. She went outside the property to stop him leaving. He followed her and pinned her to the ground,” Mr Macintosh said, according to The Record. “He placed both knees on her arms, so she was unable to move. He then began strangling her with both his hands.
“She was initially able to scream and feared for her life and believed Johnston intended to kill her as he was very forceful.” Mr Macintosh said that despite suffering severe bruising, Ms Johnston did not require medical treatment.
Johnston’s Lawyers said he had accepted responsibility for the assault. Lady Drummond refused to grant him bail and placed him in custody, telling him: “I have no need to tell you that this is a serious and violent offence.
“You repeatedly strangled her, injured her and put her life in danger in what must have been absolutely terrifying circumstances for her. “I am afraid, Mr. Johnston, that your status has now changed, you have been convicted of a very serious crime and you will be remanded meantime.”
It is unclear whether the Johnstons have separated following the incident.
One would never have guessed that a person who ‘broke the internet’ was also capable of breaking a spirit.
[source:yahoo]
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