British Woman Nearly Killed by Tunisian Husband

From This is Nottingham:

A MAN repeatedly stabbed his estranged wife in a "frenzied" attack in front of their young son, a court heard.

Adel Hdili left Gail Hdili blind in one eye and scarred for life after the attack at a bus stop in Highbury Road, Bulwell.

Nottingham Crown Court was told Mr Hdili, who is Tunisian, had become upset after his wife left him, saying she thought she was a lesbian.

The pair had met while Mrs Hdili, 40, was on holiday in Tunisia in 2002. They had moved in together in Rotherham but later split up. They briefly got back together after Mr Hdili began harassing his wife, but Mrs Hdili began talking to people online, which led to Mr Hdili breaking her computer.

Mrs Hdili then moved to Nottingham after meeting a woman online in 2007.

The woman she had met lived in Highbury Road and Mrs Hdili, who had moved into a refuge, regularly went to see her.

She had told the police she didn't feel safe, worrying Mr Hdili would come to find her.

Dawn Pritchard, prosecuting, said Mr Hdili traced her to the woman's address because Mrs Hdili used it as her address on eBay.

He watched her leave the house on January 10 and followed her to the bus stop before attacking her – in spite of their five-year-old son's pleas for him to stop.

"Their son was shouting at his father to stop," said Ms Pritchard.

Witnesses managed to drag Mr Hdili away and called police.

Mrs Hdili was left with stab and slash wounds to her face, stomach and her legs. She is now blind in her left eye and fears for her safety when her former husband is released.

In mitigation, Andrew Easteal said Mr Hdili was very remorseful.

Mr Hdili had pleaded guilty to wounding at a previous court appearance.

Judge Michael Stokes, QC, said he believed Mr Hdili represented a safety risk to his wife. He jailed him for nine years and said he would be deported when he is released.

He said: "It was a frenzied attack and your wife has been seriously injured.

"You were enraged by her departure from you and her taking up with a woman."

The Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating the way Notts Police and South Yorkshire Police handled the case after Mrs Hdili told them of her concern.

An IPCC spokesman said: "A number of enquiries have been followed through by IPCC investigators in the Nottingham and South Yorkshire areas and our investigation is nearing its conclusion."