Scotland Yard launched an investigation following the release of images which showed Nigella Lawson getting choked by her husband at a popular restaurant a few weeks ago.
Pictures of the assault on the celebrity chef stirred a considerable amount of controversy after they were published on the front page of the Sunday People .
The pictures show 70-year-old Charles Saatchi putting his hands around Nigella Lawson’s neck no less than four times during their meal at the famous Scott’s restaurant in Mayfair. At one point during their heated exchange, Lawson’s husband also grabbed her nose.
Although the incident was witnessed by several patrons at the eatery, nobody — including the photographer — stepped in to help calm the situation. One person who witnessed the exchange said Nigella was clearly upset by her husband’s behavior. She was seen wiping away tears several times during the argument.
Another witness described Saatchi’s demeanor as “menacing.” He also said there was no questioned that Nigella Lawson was “abused and humiliated in public” by her husband.
“No man should do that to a woman. She raised her voice and got angry but at the same time was trying to calm him down, almost like you would try to calm down a child,” the witness explained.
Scotland Yard said in a statement that an investigation into the altercation is currently underway. However, police have yet to receive a formal complaint from Nigella Lawson regarding the assault.
“Officers from the Community Safety Unit at Westminster are aware of the Sunday People article. Enquiries are in hand to establish the facts of the incident,” The Yard explained.
Nigella Lawson and Charles Saatchi have been married for nine years. During a 2007 interview, the celebrity chef said that her husband is more of an “exploder” while she is a “festerer.” The dynamic was clearly evident during the couple’s argument at Scott’s restaurant.
Police to investigate after photos emerge of Nigella Lawson’s husband grabbing her neck http://t.co/hOSwMbimix pic.twitter.com/x4rNskrqqU
— SPIN 1038 (@spin1038) June 17, 2013
#NigellaLawson walks out of marital home. Scotland Yard now investigating throat grabbing incident. pic.twitter.com/J22xI3ydyn
— Sarah Harris (@SarahHarrisNews) June 16, 2013
Do you think Nigella Lawson should file charges against Charles Saatchi for choking her at Scott’s restaurant?
[Image via Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com ]
