Man Claims Insomnia and Testosterone Caused Violent Choking Assault in Court Testimony
Mihael Vrhovsek, a 29-year-old man on trial for attempted murder, has testified in court that insomnia and testosterone use were responsible for a brutal attack where he repeatedly choked a woman unconscious. The incident occurred outside a Rivervale apartment complex on February 26, 2024, with Vrhovsek blaming his actions on these factors during proceedings at the WA Supreme Court.
Confronting CCTV Footage Reveals Multiple Choking Incidents
In disturbing CCTV footage presented to the court, Vrhovsek is seen strangling the woman three separate times, causing her to lose consciousness on each occasion. A man repeatedly attempted to intervene during the assault. "I can't believe it's me, that I've done that," Vrhovsek stated when shown the footage of his own violent actions.
The accused, who moved from Slovenia to Australia at age 17, described feeling disconnected from his actions during the attack. "I heard her say 'you're a psycho' ... I wasn't in control of my body," he testified. "I didn't really know what I was doing."
Barrage of Threatening Messages Preceded Violent Confrontation
Prosecutors revealed that in the three days leading up to the attack, Vrhovsek had contacted the victim 234 times through texts and calls from different mobile phones. These communications included threatening messages such as "you're dead to me," "you're a slut," and "I prefer to think of you dead in your apartment for every day your car doesn't move."
Vrhovsek explained this barrage of communication was "to get her attention" after returning from a trip to Europe where he visited family. "The place hadn't changed. It had a leaking shower. It just broke me," he said regarding his emotional state after the visit.
Medical and Psychological Factors Cited in Defense
The defense centered on Vrhovsek's claim that he lacked intent to kill, with his lawyer Luka Margaretic questioning him about the choking incidents. "Yes I did but it didn't feel like I consciously did it," Vrhovsek responded when asked about grabbing the woman's throat.
Vrhovsek testified about multiple health issues affecting his behavior, including Asperger's Syndrome which he said caused him to make "nasty remarks" to the woman beforehand. He also described severe sleep deprivation leading to prescription testosterone cream use after experiencing workplace conflicts and suicidal thoughts.
"It affected me in a way it hadn't before," he said of the testosterone treatment. The accused additionally admitted to using illegally-purchased human growth hormone injections.
Prosecution Details Additional Violent Statements and Actions
Prosecutor Jehna Winter presented evidence that Vrhovsek dragged the unconscious woman toward a bin room while fighting off a man attempting to help her. According to Winter, Vrhovsek shouted "I want to kill her," "I want to finish the job," and "She deserved it" during the assault.
Vrhovsek denied making these specific statements and claimed he was "blacked out" when carrying the woman. Regarding the third choking incident, he described it as "just bear-hugged her around the throat" rather than intentional strangulation.
"I don't think I formed any intention, to be honest," Vrhovsek told his defense counsel. "I just got angry. To give context I struggle to sleep." The trial continues as the court examines the complex interplay between medical conditions, substance use, and criminal responsibility in this violent case.
