The court hearing for the Duke of Marlborough, Charles James Spencer-Churchill, 70, on charges of intentional strangulation has been adjourned. He is accused of three counts of non-fatal intentional strangulation, with the alleged attacks occurring over an 18-month period between November 2022 and May 2024, against the same individual in Woodstock, Oxfordshire. Spencer-Churchill, who was arrested on May 13, 2024, was scheduled to appear at Oxford Magistrates' Court on Thursday morning, but a new court date has not yet been confirmed by Thames Valley Police.
The Duke inherited his title in 2014 and is a descendant of the Spencer family, with connections to Sir Winston Churchill and the late Princess Diana. His ancestral home is Blenheim Palace, which is managed by the Blenheim Palace Heritage Foundation. The foundation stated that they cannot comment on the charges, as they pertain to the Duke's private life and are currently part of ongoing criminal proceedings.