Washington Township man charged with torture, assault

A 35-year-old Washington Township man faces an Oct. 29 pre-trial conference after being charged with assault with intent to murder and torture after allegedly stabbing and beating his girlfriend.

The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office released a graphic video in the case of bodybuilder Paul Bashi, in a July incident at their home.

The Detroit News has requested the video through the Freedom of Information Act, first posted by WJBK-TV (Fox 2). 

Portions of the video that were published show a man hitting the victim with furniture and with a can of bodybuilding supplements.

On July 29, at 7 p.m., Macomb County deputy sheriffs responded to Bashi's home. On arrival, police were told that the victim had been beaten and her boyfriend had fled.

Police found the victim on the porch, "injured and bleeding form multiple puncture wounds to her head and right side of her body," as a statement at the time from the sheriff's office described it.

Bashi was found soon after, walking in the area, with what appeared to be blood on him. Police made the arrest, and the prosecutor's office authorized three charges: the assault with intent to murder —a felony potentially carrying a life sentence — as well as the torture charge, and delivery/manufacture of a controlled substance. That substance, authorities say, is a human growth hormone called "Jintropin."

The victim in the case has appeared in court to ask that the charges against Bashi be dropped, said a prosecutor's office staffer familiar with the details of the case. But prosecutor Eric Smith will press forward anyway.

The prosecution says the victim was stabbed 24 times during the attack, and punched and kicked more than 100 times over a 40-minute period.

At his arraignment on Sept. 5, Bashi was given a $5 million bond, and he remains at Macomb County Jail as his case proceeds. If Bashi does make bond, he's been ordered not to contact the victim and not go within five miles of the woman's residence or place of employment. 

Bashi's lawyer earlier this month presented a motion to reduce the $5 million bond, but that motion was denied. Bashi is due next in Macomb County Circuit Court on Oct. 29 at 1:30 p.m. for a pre-trial conference, per court records. 

Bashi's attorney David Griem declined comment.