Michael Winner, pictured with wife Geraldine on their wedding day in September 2011 in Chelsea Town Hall. The director died in January 2013
A personal trainer who claims to be an ex-lover of film director Michael Winner robbed his widow of jewellery, art and cash worth over £280,000, a court heard.
Gurgana Gueorguieva , 48, admitted a single count of robbery at Southwark Crown Court today, nearly four years after it took place.
She was originally arrested and interviewed in 2016, but was released as there was ‘not sufficient evidence’ to charge her.
But she was arrested again on June 6 this year and charged the next day.
Despite entering a guilty plea to a single charge of robbery, the Crown Prosecution Service disputed her version of events as she did not admit attacking Geraldine Winner, then 77, on purpose.
Mrs Winner, a former dancer who married Mr Winner in 2011, had been planning to travel to France to see her sons in the morning, but was attacked as she went to take the rubbish out at around 10pm, on October 9 2015.
Prosecutors say she was beaten with a metal pole before being pushed into the flat during a struggle.
At an earlier hearing prosecutor Manjit Mahal said: ‘The suspect, we say the defendant, was wearing a wig. That wig had fallen off.
‘The suspect grabbed a kettle from a counter and struck Mrs Winner over the head causing multiple head lacerations.
Mrs Winner suffered serious head injuries and a broken finger when she was robbed in her flat (pictured) in Knightsbridge, central London
‘The defendant pushed Mrs Winner to the floor, sat on her back holding her down, and threatened to stab Mrs Winner.
‘The defendant zip-tied her hands and feet, leaving her face down on the kitchen floor while she proceeded to raid the house of valuables.’
Mrs Winner, now 81, claims she was left with serious head injuries and a broken finger after the incident at her £4 million penthouse in the exclusive Knightsbridge area of west London.
The other issue in dispute is the value of the stolen items, the court heard.
The haul included a heart-shaped diamond pendant, cash including euros and a painting of St Mark’s Basilica in Venice by the artist Franz Richard Unterberger.
Prosecutors say the items were worth £280,000 and that £248,000 worth of items had now been recovered.
Gueorguieva denies the claim, saying they are only worth £50,000.
A Newton hearing will now take place for a judge to decide whether they believe Gueorguieva or Ms Winner’s version of events.
Michael Winner and Geraldine Winner pose for a photograph on their wedding day. Despite entering a guilty plea to a single charge of robbery, the Crown Prosecution Service disputed Gueorguieva’s version of events as she did not admit attacking Geraldine Winner, then 77, on purpose
Obi Mgbokwere, prosecuting, said: ‘That basis of plea is not accepted by the prosecution, particularly when one looks at the injuries sustained by the complainant. There has been a recent uploading of photographs of those injuries.
‘The victim in this case, she is now 81. She will give evidence by police interview. It’s likely cross examination will be by live link.
‘She’s going to be the only live witness for the prosecution.’
Patrick Dennis, defending, said: ‘Of dispute is the valuation of the items taken.
‘The prosecution recently served a statement to say the recovered items came to £248,000.
‘My client has been advised in relation to that and she’s adamant that’s a distinct over-valuation.
‘She still maintains they are worth no more than £50,000.’
Asked if the value of the items stolen would make a difference to Gueorguieva’s sentence, Judge Phillip Bartle QC said: ‘I’m absolutely sure it makes a difference.’
Mr Dennis said Gueorguieva would be producing three witnesses at the hearing to give evidence about ‘the victim’s credibility’.
He also requested the prosecution disclose tapes of Gueorguieva’s interviews – including the one from 2016 when she was originally arrested for the robbery.
He said: ‘She was arrested originally and interviewed in 2016. She denied the offences and was released as there wasn’t sufficient evidence.’
Michael Winner died aged 77 at his London home in January 2013.
Gueorguieva, of Holland Park, west London was ordered to appear again at Southwark Crown Court for a Newton hearing on September 26.
The hearing is expected to last for two to three days.
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