I know nothing about JLC - I think I've seen him once in a programme about Japan. Reading the media reports of the trial he comes across as a tosser at best and a vicious abuser at worst.
But there is something about Ana that gives me the chills, as so much of what she's alleged to have done, an EA ex did to me. I'm normally a buttoned up person but he could verbally abuse me and wind me up until I was an irrational screaming banshee who would rant and rave and scream at him. And he'd be suddenly very calm and quiet and tape me as well to prove I was evil and he was the victim.
Alcohol and drug problem and drunken nights which frequently culminated in suicide threats and attempts at self harm he'd have to be slapped or wrestled out of? Check.
Manic behaviour with money and gambling? Check.
Insisting on giving a full and disgustingly graphic rundown of past sexual behaviour whether I wanted to hear it or not? Check
Jealousy and paranoia, stalking exes? Check
Threats of blackmail and destroying me if I left? Check.
Lots of tales to friends and family during the relationship about my abusive behaviour? Check. Claims I had no idea of and which had no basis in truth but which established a backstory for after we'd split.
Oh and punching himself in the face, head and and stomach whilst screaming abuse at himself. Check. I was actually shaking when I read that allegation, it brought back such visceral memories.
I really don't know what to make of this case. My default setting, having suffered EA, should be to accept the word of the alleged victim. Also statistically the vast majority of domestic abusers are men. But she comes across as my utterly toxic ex to a T and I can't get past that. If I'd been a z-list celeb there is nothing he wouldn't have stooped to to attack me (ie. Max Clifford, kiss n tell, and police allegations, rather than what he actually did which was attempt to blacken my name to my employers and friends).
It will be interesting to see what the jury decides.