dailyloe.com – Ben Pasternak, a 26-year-old Australian entrepreneur, has been charged with strangling his ex-girlfriend, social media influencer Evelyn Ha, in a Manhattan hotel. The incident occurred on March 31 at the Baccarat Hotel, where Pasternak was allegedly hiding from legal issues related to his cryptocurrency company, Believe.
According to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, Pasternak was arrested on Tuesday after Ha attempted to film him during their encounter. The criminal complaint states that he squeezed her neck, leading to her seeking medical attention for redness, throat pain, and difficulty breathing.
Additionally, court documents allege that Pasternak slammed a door on Ha multiple times, causing bruising on her arms and hips. He has denied the allegations, claiming that Ha was the aggressor during the incident.
His spokeswoman, Dini von Mueffling, stated that Ha had a history of being emotionally and physically abusive towards Pasternak. She claimed that Ha “flew into a rage” during the hotel encounter and threatened Pasternak if he attempted to leave the relationship.
In contrast, Ha stated that she left Pasternak due to fears for her safety. In a YouTube video, she explained, “There were serious boundaries that were crossed, and I decided to move away from that relationship for the sake of my safety and my wellbeing.”
Pasternak has pleaded not guilty to a felony second-degree strangulation charge and a misdemeanor assault charge. The case continues to develop as both parties present their sides of the story.
