Developer Accused of Strangling Wife Drew Up Divorce 'Wish List,' Court Hears

The estranged wife of a Sandbanks property developer drew up a divorce "wish list" before he allegedly strangled her during a drunken row at their £3 million home, a court has been told. Gemma Martin, 52, is said to have listed a £1 million home, a £60,000 annual income, and a £35,000 Range Rover following the breakdown of her marriage to Paul Pressland, 63.

Pressland is accused of attacking Ms. Martin during a row over their divorce after hosting her parents for a Sunday roast dinner on December 1, 2024. He denies a charge of intentional strangulation and claims he acted in self-defense. Prosecutors allege that after their guests left, Pressland confronted Ms. Martin, having heard from a friend that she was filing for divorce. The confrontation escalated into a heated argument, during which Ms. Martin allegedly threw her Ugg slippers at her husband, accusing him of infidelity. Prosecutors claim Pressland then pinned her against a door and strangled her, causing her eyes to bulge and making her fear for her life.

The court heard that Pressland, a property developer with multiple companies, bought the Sandbanks home in 2017. He and Ms. Martin, an interior designer, had been together for 10 years and married for two, living in the £3 million property with Ms. Martin's two sons from a previous relationship. Pressland reportedly had an inkling that divorce proceedings were underway but only confirmed it from an office source days before the alleged incident.

Pressland's defense barrister presented Ms. Martin with a handwritten list, attributed to her, that detailed demands including a £1 million house, a £60,000 annual income, vehicles for her and her children, and half the net assets of a company she was listed as a director of. Ms. Martin stated that the list was a mutual discussion on how to split amicably, though she admitted to seeing a solicitor because she distrusted her husband's verbal agreement.

Pressland told the jury that the Sunday roast dinner involved significant wine consumption. He described the conversation with Ms. Martin after her parents and sons had retired as "heated," with his wife being "aggressive" and belittling his relationship with his children. He claims Ms. Martin later entered the spare room where he had gone to sleep, swore at him, and threw slippers, striking him. He stated he returned the slippers and then Ms. Martin attacked him again, grabbing his hair and pulling him. Pressland claims he tried to stop the pulling by grabbing her arm, and that she hit her back on a door handle, sustaining injuries, and that further injuries occurred when they both fell and he attempted to calm her.

Ms. Martin, however, testified that Pressland pushed her, grabbed her arms, punched her ribs, pinned her against the wall, and squeezed her throat until she could not breathe. She said she began hyperventilating and screaming when he released her, with her son Henry, 21, witnessing her distress. Henry Martin told the court he heard a "barbaric" scream and found his mother in a state of extreme distress.

Ms. Martin reportedly told Pressland she would not report the incident if he granted her the divorce. However, two days later, she reported the incident to the police online.

The trial is ongoing.