According to court documents released on Thursday, a British aristocrat connected to Princess Diana and World War II prime Winston Churchill is accused of killing his estranged wife.
Between November 2022 and May 2024, the 70-year-old Duke of Marlborough was charged with three counts of non-fatal deliberate strangulation on his second wife, Edla Marlborough, in Oxford Magistrates Court in central England.
However, the matter is scheduled to be relisted on January 5 after Judge Kamlesh Rana was informed that he was “unable to attend” the hearing on Thursday.
Jamie, whose real name is Charles Spencer-Churchill, comes from one of the most aristocratic families in Britain.
Winston Churchill, the duke’s first cousin three times removed, was born in Blenheim Palace, the ancestral seat of the dukes of Marlborough.
Through her father’s Spencer family, Princess Diana was also related to him.
Spencer-Churchill’s battle with drug addiction was widely reported in the past.
According to court documents, the alleged assaults took place in Woodstock in Oxfordshire.
In 2024, Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, and European leaders were welcomed by King Charles III at Blenheim.
After his father passed away in 2014, Spencer-Churchill inherited his dukedom, but he is not the owner of the 18th-century baroque palace, which is managed by trustees and attracts thousands of visitors each year.
Due to the accused’s prominent background and longstanding ties to British high society, the case has garnered significant public attention. The issue has also been brought to the attention of advocacy groups as a reminder that domestic abuse is not limited by social class.
Friends of the victim described her as “kind, private, and devoted to her family,” while relatives have called for justice, urging authorities to ensure a thorough and transparent investigation.
The case is scheduled to proceed to a higher court in the coming weeks, where prosecutors are expected to present additional forensic findings and witness testimony. If convicted, the accused could face a lengthy prison sentence.
Police emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing and reminded the public that the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
