Ex-wrestler Jim Breaks charged with killing his ex-girlfriend in Gran Canaria
Retired wrestler Jim Breaks has been charged with killing his ex-British girlfriend at his Gran Canaria flat.
The former ITV star has been warned Spanish state prosecutors will call for him to be jailed for 15 years when he goes on trial for her homicide.
They say in an indictment he punched Donna Cowley around the face and body after smashing a cup over her head during an argument.
The 80-year-old, from Bradford, West Yorks, was remanded in prison after his June 30 2017 arrest.
Prosecutors allege Breaks abandoned severely injured Yorkshire-born Donna in the bathroom of his flat in the holiday resort of Puerto Rico after assaulting her.
She managed to call the emergency services for help after being hit, but died in hospital the following day.
Jim, known as Cry Baby in the ring, was a familiar face for almost 30 years on Saturday afternoon TV when millions tuned in to watch his fights.
Mum-of-two Donna, 47 when she died, moved to Gran Canaria more than 20 years ago with Breaks after working for him at a pub he owned in Bradford.
She fell on hard times after succumbing to drink problems when her love of partying started to take its toll and seeing her health problems, which included asthma and diabetes, spiral.
She emigrated after splitting with her husband and leaving her two young children in the care of her parents. Her daughter subsequently died on Christmas Day 2005 in tragic circumstances aged just 17.
Breaks reportedly confessed to assaulting Donna during his behind-closed-doors court interview shortly after his arrest and told a judge she was acting as his carer when she died and they were not dating.
She is understood to have moved back in with him after they finished dating when she lost her job.
No date has been set for Breaks’ trial.
Breaks won the Northern Featherweight Championship after entering the amateur wrestling ranks before being trained for the professional ring by talented wrestler Bernard Murray.
He won the British Lightweight championship against Melwyn Rees in October 1963, holding the title until February 15th 1967 when he lost it to Al Miquet.
He went on to win the belt a further nine times before losing it for the final time against Steve Grey on March 22 1984.
A well-informed wrestling website claimed after his arrest he appeared on ITV wrestling for 28 years, longer than any other wrestler and more times than anyone else except the late Mick McManus.
He is better known as Jim or Jimmy Breaks, although he was christened James Breaks.
As well as a prison sentence state prosecutors say they want him to pay his alleged victim’s heirs €60,000 (£53,370) in compensation.
It was not clear today if he is also being prosecuted by Donna’s loved ones.
Under Spanish law private prosecutions – led by the relatives of crime victims – run separately but parallel to any state prosecution.
Formal charges are only laid in Spain shortly before trial.
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