PTC woman says she sought help despite husband's warnings

Tue, 04/28/2009 - 5:27pm
By: John Munford

Photos of injuries displayed to jury; trial to resume Wednesday morning

A Peachtree City woman testified today that her husband brutally beat and sexually assaulted her on a number of occasions before a series of assaults at their home Jan. 20 that sent her to a hospital for four days.

Pamela Ellicott said she decided to leave their home that day despite her husband’s threats that he would hunt her down, torture and kill her if she ever told anyone about the beatings.

Asked why she decided to seek help, Ellicott replied that she felt if she hadn’t done so “I would not be alive today.”

Michael William Ellicott is on trial for five counts of aggravated assault (family violence), six counts of aggravated battery (family violence), two counts of aggravated sodomy, one count of rape and one count of false imprisonment.

The jury was shown photos today that were taken during Pamela Ellicott’s hospital stay which showed bruising on several parts of her body. The bruises were the result of the assaults on Jan. 20 and several days prior, Mrs. Ellicott said, claiming that her husband kicked and punched her while also striking her with drumsticks in the soundproof home theater room of the couple’s home on Portico Place.

Pamela Ellicott said her husband was responsible for breaking both her wrists, one of which she recalled hearing crack as she deflected a blow he intended for her head. She also said she still suffered from an injury to her buttocks which required surgery and makes it painful to walk.

One of the photos showed Mrs. Ellicott with a blank stare on her face as a hospital staffer tended to her. Prosecutor Warren Sellars asked Pamela Ellicott what she was feeling when that photo was taken.

“Pain throughout my whole body,” she replied. “Worrying about my children.”

At one point during the Jan. 20 assault, Michael Ellicott received a phone call and left the room, Mrs. Ellicott said. After he left the room, Pamela Ellicott said that she took the opportunity to grab a cordless phone from a nearby room before heading upstairs to escape the home.

She ran to a nearby neighbor's house and police were called to the scene.

Pamela Ellicott also testified about several deviant sexual acts her husband forced her to perform on him. She also said on several occasions that he forced her to have intercourse against her will.

Although the physical assaults from her husband began about a year and a half before the Jan. 20 incident, Mrs. Ellicott said she stayed with her husband and had not planned to divorce him because she still loved him.

“It wasn’t until the last year that I stayed out of fear,” Mrs. Ellicott said.
The case will continue tomorrow morning as defense attorneys cross-examine Mrs. Ellicott.

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Submitted by Raksha Development on Wed, 04/29/2009 - 4:15pm.

Thank you for your coverage of this story. Our hearts go out to Mrs. Elliott and to all those surviving domestic violence in our communities. While we are grateful that Mrs. Elliott is able to testify about her abuse, it is devastating to think about how much she suffered before the perpetrator was held accountable for his actions.

This is just one of so many such stories. It is clear, the prevalence of domestic violence makes incidents like this a community problem, not a private matter. As a community, we must work to keep victims safe and hold perpetrators accountable. What can we do? First, we can listen to survivors and let them know that we believe them. Second, we can offer resources like the statewide 1-800-33-HAVEN number which can put survivors in touch with resources in their local area. And finally, we can get involved and support our local domestic violence shelter and support agencies.

Here are just a few chilling facts to consider:

1 in 3 women in America report being abused by a boyfriend or husband.

Firearms cause over half of the domestic violence-related fatalities every year in the U.S.

Georgia is ranked 14th in the nation for the rate at which men kill women, most of which are domestic violence deaths.

Thank you to the Citizen for providing coverage of this incident and trial. If you choose to do a follow-up story, please consider putting the 1-800-33-HAVEN number in the story as a resource for others who may be suffering abuse in your community.

Sincerely,
Tonja Holder
Director of Development
Raksha

"serving survivors for over 13 years"

Submitted by Blah Blah on Wed, 04/29/2009 - 11:45pm.

You said "firearms couse over half the domestic violence fatalities". Another great reason to ban firearm ownership.

Most of these incidints result from ramifications of the mad, Wasp communities who have to take thier madness out on someone who is weaker than they. I bet the woman beater was a republican wingnut. he is the same kind to hurt animals and maybe even children. We need to really watch people like this elliot very closely.
Need to wathc those tighty whitey wearing republitards who like cyclist that spend their time protesting starships stores instead of protecting the victims and the enviroment
A system of limitless individual choices, with respect to communications, is not necessarily in the interest of citizenship and self-government.

Cyclist's picture
Submitted by Cyclist on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 6:26am.

back.

Hey Comrade Blah,

JeffC and I are throwing a party; you want to come? We're having it at his country club mansion. Since he likes pork and I like beef you can try them both. And just to make sure you feel at home, it will be like a big socialist event. You get to come for free and eat as much as you want and on somebody else's dime. Just don't plan on staying the night. We do have limits on freeloaders. Smiling
-------------------------------------------
Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.


ptctaxpayer's picture
Submitted by ptctaxpayer on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 5:45am.

Blah blah ("Nancy") is probably one of those clowns that cried oceans of crocodile tears for Tawana Brawley and Al Sharpton before they realized (obviously) that they had been snookered by a media event. Be careful now because if you want to talk about deviance, Ole Obammy has a few skeletons there. You are typical big government socialist that wants to "protect" us from all of these evils. No thanks Nancy.


Submitted by Blah Blah on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 6:07am.

Probably another beat down Peachtree city woman whose airline husband victmized her and used his gun on her. keep smoking and die Fonzy.

A system of limitless individual choices, with respect to communications, is not necessarily in the interest of citizenship and self-government.

Submitted by Dondol on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 9:15am.

you really could use some edumacation, are you 12 or have you had your head stuffed in the ground for the last 20 years? And to think Andrew Dice Clay if Fonzie, you know mayby you should start eating some meat, might smarten you up some.

Obama's weapon of Choice!

alittlebirdietoldme's picture
Submitted by alittlebirdietoldme on Wed, 04/29/2009 - 10:21pm.

from one who knows


Gene61's picture
Submitted by Gene61 on Wed, 04/29/2009 - 10:49am.

Sad part is that the defense will do their level best to distroy her on the stand, in essense putting her through even more pain... If all of this is proven to be true in a court of law, they should lock him up and throw away the damn key.

Lets hope the young jury can and soes understand that one can indeed
rape a spouse, no matter the the sex of the victim..Michael William Ellicott shoulds like a punk and someone who beleives he has power of those he chooses to attack,. Hope he is found guilty and maybe he will get passed around like a barbie doll in prison.


suggarfoot's picture
Submitted by suggarfoot on Wed, 04/29/2009 - 6:57am.

I noticed that the jury they picked was young. My thoughts are because of the rape charge.

To someone younger, it would stick in their heads, 'how can you rape your own wife?' That is something, I too have thought before. When you heard that poor woman describe what he did, then you know what rape really is.

I'm only putting this in the paper because I hope the prosecutors lawyers pounds that in his summation. What I heard her describe was a horrible rape.

I've never watched a trial before, and I only watched yesterday because I couldn't believe the charges. Delta pilots go through a lot of mental testing. They are looking for a certain 'mental profile'. Never, has it turned out that profile includes wife beater.

My heart goes out to that family. I wish this had never happened to them and they all could have lived happily ever after.


carbonunit52's picture
Submitted by carbonunit52 on Tue, 04/28/2009 - 9:44pm.

John,

I believe The Citizen has gotten enough mileage out of this family's troubles. In the interest of compassion please move on.

It's not easy being the carbonunit


carbonunit52's picture
Submitted by carbonunit52 on Thu, 04/30/2009 - 5:31am.

that printing the names of victims of spousal abuse might deter some from coming forward? The issue is very important and the facts should be reported, and with the economy in its present condition, it can only be getting worse.

It's not easy being the carbonunit


Submitted by my2centsfwiw on Wed, 04/29/2009 - 8:21am.

Maybe, just maybe, there is a woman out there who is also being so horribly abused and she will read this story and think "If she left, so can I."

I really wish the charges included cruelty to children, because what that 12 yr old girl and 16 yr old boy went through in that home is unimaginable.

Robert W. Morgan's picture
Submitted by Robert W. Morgan on Wed, 04/29/2009 - 5:04am.

Not until we see how many years in big boy prison this slimeball gets. I am hoping for 20 which means 7, but maybe we can get photos of his bruises after he encounters Bubba or some other hard core criminal who also respects women. Maybe, just maybe Bubba or one of his friends will have a little sister who has been raped by some pig and he will transfer his anger to our very own pilot. I wonder if you can stay out of the shower room for 7 years?


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