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Macomb County bodybuilder accused of brutal beating of girlfriend withdraws plea

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Published  November 27, 2019 8:54am EST
Crime and Public Safety
FOX 2 Detroit

MACOMB, Mich. (FOX 2) - A Macomb County man who had pleaded no contest to the brutal beating of his girlfriend in 2018 withdrew his plea Wednesday when he was in court for an expected sentencing in the case. 

Home surveillance video from the incident last year is disturbing to watch. It shows 36-year-old Paul Bashi hitting and stabbing his girlfriend several times, nearly killing her inside their Washington Township home.

Video shows Macomb County bodybuilder’s violent attack of girlfriend

Producer Note: Video used in this report uses disturbing, violent images of abuse. Viewer discretion is advised. 

Bodybuilder withdraws guilty plea in domestic abuse beating of girlfriend

A Macomb County man who had pleaded no contest to the brutal beating of his girlfriend a year ago withdrew his plea Wednesday when he was in court for an expected sentencing in the case

Bashi was supposed to have been sentenced in October but it was delayed until the day before Thanksgiving. 

Blashi's sentencing was expected to happen Wednesday morning. FOX 2 streamed it live on FOX 2 News Now. 

After considering the plea and the term that he would be sentenced to prison, Bashi withdrew his plea.

During Wednesday's hearing, the prosecutor informed the judge that there were reports that Bashi and the victim had been in contact via the jail's video chat, which is in violation of the court's no contact order.

"We don't have a motion here but I'll reiterate to you: if there's another violation, I'd hate to have to revoke your phone priveleges, sir, and other priveleges you may have that you've beneifted from whil you were incarcerated. The court was very clear with the no contact," the judge said. "I've indicated there's to be no contact with the victim in this case, until the matter is resolved."

Bashi said he understood the no contact order.

The case will move forward with a pre-trial but a date was not set.

His defense attorney, David Griem, blamed steroid abuse for the violent attack when Bashi allegedly kicked the woman more than 100 times in the July 2018 assault in their Washington County home. Authorities also said he also punched her 50 times, stabbed her two dozen times and hit her with a chair. 

Bashi pleaded no contest to attempted murder, torture and illegal possessing steroids. The judge in the case accepted the plea on October 23rd.

Bodybuilder held on $5M bond for attempted murder, found with human growth hormone

A no-contest plea isn't an admission of guilt but is treated as such for sentencing.

Bashi could face life in prison when sentenced Wednesday. He remains jailed on a $5 million bond right now. 

If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, there is help. Call the U.S. National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 and TTY 1-800-787-3224 or if you believe you are in danger use a safe computer or call 911. For resources in Michigan, click here.